Right this moment I want to share one thing new. I need to speak about how demanding we’re with ourselves. Primarily, how demanding we’re with what’s invisible to the bare eye. Let me attempt to make sense out of it.
World Cups aren’t solely about having enjoyable, having fun with and celebrating the game from the gamers’ perspective. They’re additionally deeply demanding moments of our lives, as your thoughts and physique must be on the prime of their recreation, day in, time out. It isn’t straightforward.
Whereas some can take a look at it as the head of a participant’s journey, the trustworthy fact is that it isn’t. We are able to’t chill out or work/practice as we did till this level; we have now to go even tougher. That demand and stress can result in insecurities. That is one thing that hits gamers from all ranges.
It bottles up. It doesn’t matter if you’re the captain, an skilled participant, a teenager, or the celebrity of the staff. These ideas will, in some unspecified time in the future, pop up and come out.
So, what can we do about it? Speak and share. Within the Spanish nationwide staff, we share. I’ve been round for a very long time, and my expertise has allowed me to discover ways to cope with these insecurities. For me, it’s critical to talk about it and listen to out my teammates, particularly the youngest members of the squad.
We’re teammates, not enemies. We’re a household, not a gaggle of people. It has been key for us to really feel snug talking about these insecurities. To simply accept these emotions are regular. To be trustworthy about them.
And, as a team leader, I don’t have any problems admitting my insecurities, that I have doubts, that, sometimes, I am not fine.
I didn’t start our last game against Ireland, but I was tremendously happy for Gemma Silva. I wanted to be on the first team, but my initial reaction was to express my happiness for her.
Every single one of us acknowledges our strengths and weaknesses. Yes, it is horrible to find out what our flaws are, but unless we are willing to face them, we won’t have the chance to work on them.
We don’t have to be afraid of that dark corner of our being. If we step into it and embrace what’s in there, we become better players, athletes and people. We become stronger.
In my opinion, human beings are inherently negative. Saying ‘no’ comes more naturally than saying ‘yes’, and a smile often only pops out when something good happens.
Insecurities are real. We are fighting for a place in the 32, 23 and in the starting team, but not as enemies, as teammates. I don’t have to be envious and feel hostile towards someone who is starting ahead of me.
Una Leona no compite contra otra Leona.
A lioness doesn’t fight against another lioness. We are members of the same pride. We walk, work, play, celebrate and mourn together.
We are here for each other. We are open about our insecurities, about what troubles us. I feel deeply connected to my teammates because I can share with them. To be able to feel vulnerable around them, because they will help me.
That’s why they matter so much to me. That’s why being here means everything to me. That’s why I think we are special.
Vulnerabilities don’t make you less professional or a weaker athlete. It is quite the opposite. For example, on the eve of matchday, we were able to join our families, friends and fans. We share smiles, stories, laughter and emotions with them. We are vulnerable there. But does it mean that we are not as strong as any other team?
I’ve already shared this in the past column, but I can’t stop smiling when we arrive at the stadium. I have no problem showing my emotions.
How could I, or any of the 32 selected players, not be happy to enjoy that? How can we look into the eyes of those who weren’t called for the World Cup and declare we aren’t having fun with ourselves? That we aren’t completely happy due to our fears.
The highway to the World Cup was lengthy, painful, and exhausting, testing each single one among us. That’s why sharing our insecurities, speaking and recognising what exists in our darkish corners, and sharing our ideas makes us stronger.
So many teammates left us alongside the best way, and we have now to be stronger for them. It was their dream too, and sadly, they aren’t right here to expertise it.
They’ve been there for us, actually, as they have been within the stands in our two previous video games. Even when it pains them to see us of their place, they travelled to be right here, to help us and again us up. Everybody needs to play in a World Cup, and though they weren’t in a position to be chosen, they need us to win video games, they need us to carry out at our greatest stage.
We’re a pleasure. We’re greater than a staff; we’re a household. For higher or worse, we’re right here for one another.
Speaking and sharing about my insecurities made me higher. It made me really feel much more like a lioness.
The World Cup is a superb factor. It’s a fantastic journey of self-discovery. It’s a probability to be a greater good friend, teammate and participant.
