Three matches. Three lessons in grit, process, and what it looks like to never give up.
Wow. Yesterday was an amazing day of soccer, one that demonstrated the importance of never, ever, ever giving up. Before the World Cup started, we installed a TV in the Navesink Psychological Services waiting room to share in watching the beautiful game with clients. The World Cup, like many major sporting events, is not just about what happens on the field but also about how we can come together and collectively enjoy time spent with others. It also provides an opportunity we rarely engage in: being in the moment. Watching clients and their families focus on the match every time I walk through the waiting room has been a great reminder of how when we stop, do one thing, and really engage, we can find a mindful resting place.
Now, onto the battles on the pitch from yesterday's matches. Let's break down what happened and see what we can learn.
England 2-1 Congo DR: staying in the process
Congo DR took a very early lead, scoring in the 7th minute. This was a huge upset to start, with Congo entering the tournament ranked 42 places below England. To take a lead so early was impressive to say the least.
However, England did what a lot of great teams do: they stayed focused on the task at hand, did not get rattled by going down so early, and continued to execute their game plan. One of the core principles we work on with athletes and performers is the difference between process goals and performance goals. A performance goal would be "win the match." A process goal would be "stay organized defensively, maintain our shape, and create chances." England appeared to play the process. They did not abandon their system after falling behind. They trusted it, and eventually it worked: an equalizer in the 75th minute, and then a winner with less than five minutes left.
The other thing worth noting is who stepped up: Harry Kane. Big players perform in big moments, but only when supported by a team that does not give up around them. Had England packed it in after the 7th minute, there would have been no opportunity for Kane to deliver. What looked like individual brilliance was the product of a collective refusal to quit.
Belgium 3-2 Senegal (AET): the best example we may see all tournament
What started as an already dramatic day turned into something extraordinary when Senegal scored early in the 24th minute, then went up 2-0 just after halftime. While the rankings between these two sides were much closer than England vs. Congo, it was still impressive to see Senegal put up those numbers against a European powerhouse. To be up 2-0 with less than 40 minutes to play seemed like enough.
And then Belgium did what great teams do: they found a way.
It wasn't fast, and I'm sure it was an incredibly anxious stretch for Belgium fans. But in the 86th minute, Lukaku scored to make it 2-1. Then, with one minute left in regulation, Belgium scored again to force extra time. Think about what that means psychologically: down 2-0 at the 51st minute, still down 2-1 in the 86th minute, and with the clock almost gone, they scored the goal that kept them alive.
Belgium appeared to do exactly that. They kept the thought bubble floating rather than letting it anchor them down, and they found a way. The match may be the best example we will see from this entire tournament of what sticking it out when things look impossible can produce. Belgium then won it in the 120th minute of extra time. From 0-2 down with less than 10 minutes to play to winning the match. Grit, determination, and an absolute refusal to accept defeat.
USA 2-0 Bosnia and Herzegovina: grit under adversity
This match did not follow the same comeback pattern, but it was still a remarkable display of mental toughness. A VAR-reviewed red card in the 64th minute reduced the USA to 10 men. The player accepted the card without much argument. That composure under pressure reflects something we actively work on with every athlete we see: emotional regulation. Not suppressing what you feel, not reacting, instead making a choice to respond in the moment.
Playing a man down for the remainder of the match, with extended stoppage time, the US held their lead. And then they did something even more impressive: they scored again while shorthanded, adding a second goal in the 82nd minute. They stuck it out, stayed present, and executed with authority. The team made a choice to respond by locking in.
What all three matches have in common
These are not innate abilities. They are trained skills. We work on them every day with athletes, performers, and anyone who has to deliver under pressure, and they are available to anyone willing to put in the work.
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If you are an athlete, a performer, or someone who needs to deliver under pressure and you want to build these mental skills, our team is here to help. Sport and performance psychology is not just for elite athletes: it is for anyone whose work involves competition, high stakes, or the need to keep going when things get hard.
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