The relentless pursuit of victory (or not)

There are 4 billion football fans in this planet.

I too am a fan - ever since I can remember. There are days when I cannot stop thinking of football. Will our star player recover from injury. Will we leverage our home field advantage. Will our substitute players make a difference. Will we win. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.

And when on match day as the ball starts rolling and your team charges forward not letting the opposition even take a breath, you think it’s only a matter of time until your team scores and claims the victory.

Then disaster strikes.

The opposition, lying deep parking the bus, surprises your team by recovering a loose ball and quickly transitioning to attack, scoring a goal from their only shot, winning the match.

Your team lost the match, but did you actually lose?

Therein lies the greatness of football. Unlike a business operation that requires the mathematical coldness of positive profits, when your team played beautifully, attacked the 90 minutes, created all (but one of) the best chances, you still have the “best” team on the pitch. When you are happy with the way your team played - you always win.

After decades of being a fan, I enjoy the sport more by realizing that how you win is equally if not most important than if you win or not. That I enjoy more if my team plays good than if it wins playing bad. That sometimes the most attractive football does not win matches. Once you realize the beauty is in the process rather than the result - then you win.

This blog is dedicated to all the beautiful matches and teams that make football the greatest sport.

I invite and welcome the other 3,999,999,999 football fans on this planet to join me here to read, discuss, and enjoy this football journey together.

June 2023