If You Think You Can, You’re More Likely to Succeed
Summary: Maintaining a calm, consistent mindset is key when your team is behind. Like Switzerland in the 2018 World Cup, staying focused on the process, embracing resilience, and refocusing after setbacks can turn challenging situations into opportunities.
Are you able to fight back once you’re down in a game?
Do you maintain a calm mindset, or do you give in to momentum?
In the 2018 World Cup, Switzerland beat Serbia 2-1 after being down 1-0 in the first half.
Even though Serbia dominated most of the first half, Switzerland displayed a relentless attitude and will to win.
Petkovic, Switzerland coach said, “After the first half, no one would have believed we could have turned this thing around. Even though we were down, we kept a level head.”
Additionally, Petkovic commented on his team’s tenacious mentality, saying:
“What is important is we have developed this winning mentality even when we are down. We always find a reaction, and this is an important and positive characteristic of my team.”
During games, your team will be down. You’ll struggle to compete and might feel like you’re on a roller coaster ride with the ups and downs. Thinking that won’t happen is irrational.
What’s most important is you or your team’s ability to maintain a “level head,” like Switzerland, and continue to grind it out to the end.
Soccer can appear to be a frustrating sport. You run for 90 minutes, work your way down the field numerous times, only to end the game with a couple goals…maybe.
It could be easy to feel challenged or give in to your opponent’s dominance, especially if they score early in the game.
Serbia quickly went up 1-0 and Switzerland had trouble competing with them.
Though, their mindset was to fight Serbia and they were able to find a balance in the second half due to their “never-say-die” attitude.
You’ve seen many athletes and teams of all sports struggle to finish games or matches because they give up mentally.
Whether they’ve been winning the whole time or losing, the “finish” doesn’t come.
Success is Largely a Matter of Consistency
Not only consistency in performance, but consistency in the mental game.
Inconsistency in either can be influenced by many factors.
Yet, frustration and distractions affect your ability to focus and be consistent.
For instance, when teams get down early in the first half like Switzerland, they might become frustrated and distracted with thinking about results or the outcome.
Switzerland however, maintained their winning mindset through the entire game, focusing on what was most important each moment and refocusing quickly after challenges.
That helped lead them to success.
Like Switzerland, continue to focus on the process and maintain your winning mindset, even when down.
The result will be in your favor, whether you win or lose.
5 Tips for Maintaining a Winning Mindset When Behind
1. Stay Calm and Level-Headed
Keep your composure when your team is down. Panic and frustration reduce focus and performance.
2. Focus on the Process, Not the Score
Concentrate on executing each play, one moment at a time, instead of worrying about the outcome or deficit.
3. Develop a Never-Say-Die Attitude
Embrace a resilient mindset. Consistently fight back regardless of the situation to increase chances of turning the game around.
4. Refocus Quickly After Setbacks
Mistakes, opponent dominance, or early goals happen. Quickly regain focus and continue executing your game plan.
5. Build Consistency in Mental and Physical Performance
Train both your skills and mindset. Consistency under pressure allows your team to maintain effort and improve results, even when trailing.
To learn more about building mental toughness, check out our audio and workbook program, “Soccer Confidence“
Related Sports Psychology Articles:
- How to Develop Growth Mindset
- How to Develop a Positive Mindset in Sports
- The Importance of Your Game-Time Mindset
Free Mental Toughness Reports
Get instant access to a mental game report to improve your mental toughness. Are you making one or more of these “deadly” mental game mistakes prior to competition? You can improve your mental game with one of our free sports-specific reports below.
with our free mental toughness reports, you’ll:
- Discover if you have positive or negative pregame jitters.
- Identify your pre-competition mental game mistakes.
- Learn the important pregame mental skills to boost your performance and success!
Learn how mental game strategies can boost your mental toughness in sports with Dr. Cohn’s free mental game reports!
FAQ: Fighting Back When Behind
Q: How can a team stay focused when trailing in a game?
A: Concentrate on each play and execute your game plan rather than dwelling on the score or outcome.
Q: Why is mental consistency important?
A: Consistency in mindset helps maintain effort, focus, and performance under pressure, even when facing setbacks.
Q: How do successful teams respond to early deficits?
A: They stay level-headed, refocus after challenges, and maintain a resilient, never-give-up attitude.
Q: Can frustration impact team performance?
A: Yes, frustration and distractions reduce focus and execution. Managing emotions helps sustain consistent performance.
Q: What mindset helped Switzerland overcome their deficit against Serbia?
A: They maintained a winning mentality, focused on the process, and displayed a relentless attitude to fight back throughout the game.
Dr. Patrick Cohn is an expert mental performance coach who has helped athletes for over 30 years enhance their performance. Dr. Cohn earned a master’s degree in sports psychology from CSUF and a Ph.D. from the University of Virginia, specializing in Applied Sports Psychology.