For such a small nation to have extremely high ambitions is it any wonder we are consistently disappointed with results surrounding so many sports? It seems that any major event conquered by a Briton or British team, remains short lived.
The England football team again disappointed at the World Cup in South Africa after qualifying so convincingly. Their performances hardly improved, in fact got worse as they slumped to their biggest defeat in World Cup history. So many players who had an impressive season with their local clubs prior to the prestigious event, failed to perform.
The England rugby team who were such a force in 2002 and 2003 have not touched the heights they reached when winning the World Cup down under seven years ago. It was almost instant that they became half the team they were. Arguments support that retirement to a number of players who were an integral part of the victorious side, was the main cause for the drop in performance. But surely there should be youngsters knocking on the door, welcoming the retirement so they can break onto the world stage with extreme potential.
Andy Murrary, Britain's number one tennis player, has all the right tools to win a grand slam, but is yet to win a single set in three major finals. Defeating the likes of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in ATP tournaments has become somewhat of a routine for Murray, however, overcoming them in a grand slam is a feat the scotsman is yet to achieve.
An example of a mentality to follow would be the Australian cricket team. They dominated world cricket for the best part of twenty years before losing crucial players such as Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Justin Langer, all of which decided to call it a day after thrashing England 5-0 at the 2006/07 Ashes series. Since then it is clear that the Aussies have not been quite the same but they have been there or thereabouts. They lifted the Champions Trophy in 2009, still proving they are the team to beat in one-day cricket. In Test cricket they remain as determined and challenging as ever. South Africa became the first side to beat Australia on their home soil since 1993 when they overcame them in the 2008/09 series. Following their rare defeat, they were scheduled to meet their rivals again very soon on opposing grounds, a series that would see the winners top the ICC rankings. The Aussies saw it as a way to get revenge and hang on to their claim at the top. One which they grabbed with both hands, wrapping up the three-match series after two Tests. A typical British side, in any sport in the same situation, wouldn’t have the right mentality and may see this as another chance for the opposition to add salt the womb. The English cricket team and the nation were on an all-time high after they experienced their first Ashes victory in 18 years, only for them to be convincingly brushed aside on their very next tour in Pakistan and then murdered 5-0 by the Australians in the 2007/08 Ashes “forgotten” series, where the English were defending the title for the first time in a long while. In 2009 the Ashes were regained only for their old enemy to maul them 6-1 in the ODI series that followed.
2010 has shown some promise, the footballers have rebounded well from a disappointing World Cup to win their first two European cup qualifiers convincingly. We are all aware though that qualification is one thing, performing at the big event is another. The England team know that qualification in emphatic fashion is only the first step to redeeming the disappointment caused in South Africa this year.
The England cricket team have managed to sustain their claim to becoming a great one-day side. Ever since their impressive display in the Caribbean earlier this year to win the ICC World Twenty20 they have brushed aside Australia and Bangladesh in the 50 over game and truly outclassed Pakistan in their two Twenty20 games. The team look settled and well organised, with new additions to the side making appearances and taking to the stage well.
2012 will see London host the Olympic Games for the third time in modern Olympic history, 64 years on from the last time the global event was hosted in the capital. Great Britain will be hit by sporting fever come July 27th 2012 and adopt the chance to pose as a nation. Can the athletes boasting home advantage raise their game and continue Britain’s progressive success in recent Olympic Games. In Beijing GB finished fourth in the overall medal table, just four gold medals behind Russia, a remarkable effort, one worthy of a parade to the rest of the nation. The USA, who have topped the medal table many a time, could only manage second best as the home nation took full advantage of their support and topped the list by some margin.
Britain needs to adapt a stronger mentality. Too many fans know what to expect and “already know the score”. Athletes have proved they can compete with the best and lead the way. The next few years is packed with major sporting events. Britain has plenty of potential to be victorious at these momentous occasions. It is about time everything came together and expectations are met and disappointment is a rarity.
The England football team again disappointed at the World Cup in South Africa after qualifying so convincingly. Their performances hardly improved, in fact got worse as they slumped to their biggest defeat in World Cup history. So many players who had an impressive season with their local clubs prior to the prestigious event, failed to perform.
The England rugby team who were such a force in 2002 and 2003 have not touched the heights they reached when winning the World Cup down under seven years ago. It was almost instant that they became half the team they were. Arguments support that retirement to a number of players who were an integral part of the victorious side, was the main cause for the drop in performance. But surely there should be youngsters knocking on the door, welcoming the retirement so they can break onto the world stage with extreme potential.
Andy Murrary, Britain's number one tennis player, has all the right tools to win a grand slam, but is yet to win a single set in three major finals. Defeating the likes of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in ATP tournaments has become somewhat of a routine for Murray, however, overcoming them in a grand slam is a feat the scotsman is yet to achieve.
An example of a mentality to follow would be the Australian cricket team. They dominated world cricket for the best part of twenty years before losing crucial players such as Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Justin Langer, all of which decided to call it a day after thrashing England 5-0 at the 2006/07 Ashes series. Since then it is clear that the Aussies have not been quite the same but they have been there or thereabouts. They lifted the Champions Trophy in 2009, still proving they are the team to beat in one-day cricket. In Test cricket they remain as determined and challenging as ever. South Africa became the first side to beat Australia on their home soil since 1993 when they overcame them in the 2008/09 series. Following their rare defeat, they were scheduled to meet their rivals again very soon on opposing grounds, a series that would see the winners top the ICC rankings. The Aussies saw it as a way to get revenge and hang on to their claim at the top. One which they grabbed with both hands, wrapping up the three-match series after two Tests. A typical British side, in any sport in the same situation, wouldn’t have the right mentality and may see this as another chance for the opposition to add salt the womb. The English cricket team and the nation were on an all-time high after they experienced their first Ashes victory in 18 years, only for them to be convincingly brushed aside on their very next tour in Pakistan and then murdered 5-0 by the Australians in the 2007/08 Ashes “forgotten” series, where the English were defending the title for the first time in a long while. In 2009 the Ashes were regained only for their old enemy to maul them 6-1 in the ODI series that followed.
2010 has shown some promise, the footballers have rebounded well from a disappointing World Cup to win their first two European cup qualifiers convincingly. We are all aware though that qualification is one thing, performing at the big event is another. The England team know that qualification in emphatic fashion is only the first step to redeeming the disappointment caused in South Africa this year.
The England cricket team have managed to sustain their claim to becoming a great one-day side. Ever since their impressive display in the Caribbean earlier this year to win the ICC World Twenty20 they have brushed aside Australia and Bangladesh in the 50 over game and truly outclassed Pakistan in their two Twenty20 games. The team look settled and well organised, with new additions to the side making appearances and taking to the stage well.
2012 will see London host the Olympic Games for the third time in modern Olympic history, 64 years on from the last time the global event was hosted in the capital. Great Britain will be hit by sporting fever come July 27th 2012 and adopt the chance to pose as a nation. Can the athletes boasting home advantage raise their game and continue Britain’s progressive success in recent Olympic Games. In Beijing GB finished fourth in the overall medal table, just four gold medals behind Russia, a remarkable effort, one worthy of a parade to the rest of the nation. The USA, who have topped the medal table many a time, could only manage second best as the home nation took full advantage of their support and topped the list by some margin.
Britain needs to adapt a stronger mentality. Too many fans know what to expect and “already know the score”. Athletes have proved they can compete with the best and lead the way. The next few years is packed with major sporting events. Britain has plenty of potential to be victorious at these momentous occasions. It is about time everything came together and expectations are met and disappointment is a rarity.
