Dear Soccer fans,

Recently in the Champions league final one could see it with the Liverpool goalie (twice) and today in the match of France versus Australia I saw it again.

The stress in these games takes hold of some players. They do things they normally do not do or behave completely different.

Today Samuel Umtiti (see below) was the victim of himself. While Australia swung in a bal into the box he made an attempt to head it out but also raised his hand above his head and slightly touched the ball. It was so obvious he touched the ball that I guess everyone in the stadium could see it. Penalty!

But penalty or not what interests me is why he did it. In his face right after you could see that he couldn't beliéve it himself; he was not helped in any way by his teammates and was left alone digesting his error.

I think it is all about stress and the podium of the World cup that makes these things happen. For some it is just to much.
Others playing in irrelevant teams like Saudi Arabia, suddenly think they can earn a contract with a large club if they do something spectacular. Yesterday the central Saudi defender passed a ball to the right, without looking and with the upper side of his foot. Result ? The ball went out meters ahead of the intended teammate. What a looser! "Look what I can do" he must have thought!

Is this only in soccer and why do some excell when the going get's tough and others fail ?

I am not a shrink but I think this happens everywhere in extreme circumstances where our basic instinct is called upon.

I am gonna sit and watch me another game soon. And oy yeah in the end France won 2-1 so it did not matter much. Good for Samuel Umtiti.

Goldrooster