Goalie mistakes and how to learn from them
Although it may not seem so at first glance, football is not just a ball game with the goal of scoring or, conversely, stopping the most goals. During matches, various situations arise that can shake the spirits of both players and fans. Let's take a look at the delicate moments that have significantly marked football history.
Harald Schumacher: The Controversial Moment at the 1982 World Cup
One of the more controversial incidents occurred at the World Cup in Spain in 1982 during a collision between German goalkeeper Harald Schumacher and French forward Patrick Battiston.
Overview of the Situation and Reaction After Schumacher's fault
As soon as forward Battiston received the pass from his teammate Platini, he sent the ball just wide of the goal. At that moment, the imposing goalkeeper Harald Schumacher charged towards him and instead of going for the ball, leaped directly at Battiston. He struck the forward in the head and chest with such force that Battiston collapsed to the ground.
Schumacher behaved callously, as he did not even try to help his opponent, which sparked a wave of outrage and criticism. While Battiston lay unconscious with broken ribs and knocked-out teeth, the goalkeeper impatiently waited for the goal kick. The pinnacle of the moment was the referee's approach, who did not classify the incident as a foul because he simply did not see it due to his focus on the ball.
The Impact of the Incident on Schumacher's Career
For a long time, the goalkeeper faced disapproval from fans, who saw him as an arrogant player willing to go to any lengths to win. In France, he was considered a pathological aggressor, and his behavior led to a wave of anti-German sentiment. German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt and French President François Mitterrand tried to ease the situation with their statements.
It was only later that Harald Schumacher, despite his notorious reputation, earned the title of Germany's best footballer and apologized to his opponent. He expressed regret for his actions and admitted the fear he actually felt.
Roberto Baggio: Penalty Miss at the 1994 World Cup
A top football representative began his professional career at just under sixteen. He was one of the leading forwards for whom clubs were willing to pay a considerable amount. Despite his career flourishing, one moment at the 1994 World Cup brought sorrow and disappointment. Baggio's mistake during the penalty kick cost Italy the title.
What actually happened?
Baggio's reaction and how he learned from this mistake
From the beginning, it was evident how much the whole thing hurt the forward. Even years later, he admitted that this moment had influenced him for life, and there wasn't a day when he didn't think about it.
However, he showed strong mental resilience, which is so crucial for athletes and gives them motivation for better performances. Despite the deep wound to his soul, he later stood before the goalkeeper for a penalty kick and converted it.
Moreover, he leveraged his unfortunate episode in an advertisement for the whiskey maker Johnnie Walker, through which he advocates the message that one must move forward even in the face of adversity.
Robert Green: Unforgettable Mistake 2010
Football goalkeeper Robert Green belongs to another group of players who experienced their darkest moments on the football field. His mistake at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa still resonates in the minds of football fans and perhaps even his teammates.
Detail of Robert Green's mistake at the World Cup in South Africa
In the 40th minute, just before the end of the first half, with England leading the USA, a shocking moment occurred. After forward Dempsey took a shot at the goal, the English goalkeeper was there in time and it looked like he would catch it. However, the opposite turned out to be true. The ball bounced out of his hands and rolled all the way over the goal line. The score of the match remained unchanged even in the second half, and Green's mistake became a widely discussed topic across the media.
How did Robert Green's mistake affect his career?
The fault lingered with the goalkeeper for a long time thereafter. The first consequence was the loss of a winning point, followed by condemnation from fans and the possibility of being benched by the coach. Last but not least, the goalkeeper himself struggled to recover from the unfortunate incident, feeling, in his own words, as if he had let down the entire country.
Due to the fans' negative or outright hostile attitude, the goalkeeper's mental state suffered. As a result, the club decided on an unconventional mental training regimen. Teammates were instructed to harass, humiliate, ridicule, and create a highly unpleasant environment for the goalkeeper. According to the coaches, this was the only way to mentally strengthen him against the onslaught of fans' attacks.
Whether this succeeded is questionable. Nevertheless, Green's blunder influenced the rest of his career. After the World Cup, he was called up to the national team only a few times and never regained his position as the first-choice goalkeeper.
England and the Curse of Goalkeepers?
Robert Green isn't by far the only one to have made such an unnecessary mistake. There are even speculations about the curse of English goalkeepers. Among other companions to whom the ball has "slipped through their fingers" are David Seaman, David James, Scott Carson, and the legendary Paul Robinson, who let the ball slip from his teammate.
Loris Karius: Mistakes in the 2018 Champions League
The German goalkeeper went through "hell" during the 2018 Champions League final. As a result of two major mistakes, he sank Liverpool and helped Real Madrid secure their third consecutive victory.
Overview of the goalkeeper's fault in the closing stages of the Champions League match
The first of the mistake came in the 51st minute of the match when Karius, while throwing the ball out, directly passed it to Karim Benzema. He then watched as the ball traveled into the goal.
The second mistake occurred in the 83rd minute when the goalkeeper failed to catch Gareth Bale's long-range shot from nearly forty meters out, and the ball slipped through his hands into the net. Real Madrid won 3-1, and Loris Karius was in tears.
How did Karius try to regain the trust of fans and coaches?
After the match, a storm erupted. The goalkeeper faced a huge wave of criticism and animosity. And although he apologized, his tears and subsequent confirmation of a mild concussion caused by a blow to the head from another player did not soften the merciless eyes of the football public. Death threats were also made.
The goalkeeper's career trajectory after the twin incidents slowed down. He moved from place to place, but his talent never fully ignited anywhere.
Last year, he moved to Newcastle, where coach Eddie Howe put him in goal after 728 days. This gave him a chance for a fresh start and to overturn his footballing fate. However, victory eventually went to the opposing Manchester United, thwarting the hopes of both Newcastle and their goalkeeper.
Fernando Muslera: Mistake at the 2018 World Cup
Among the goalkeepers who have experienced unpleasant and fatal mistakes on the football field is Fernando Muslera. The error by the Uruguayan goalkeeper had a significant impact on the outcome of the quarter-final match of the 2018 World Cup against France.
Why didn't the goalkeeper catch the shot?
The match between France and Uruguay was evenly balanced until the 61st minute. French midfielder Antoine Griezmann then took a shot that was expected and aimed to be easily caught. Muslera moved towards it, but he fumbled the shot with his hands behind him, and the ball ended up in the goal. France's victory couldn't be overturned thereafter.
Fernando Muslera's career and the consequences of his mistake
Although Uruguay lost the chance to advance primarily due to the goalkeeper's mistake, Muslera was not abandoned by the coach. He appreciated Muslera's previous contributions to the team and accepted France's advancement as the stronger team. The goalkeeper also received support from other colleagues, including the goal scorer Griezmann, who refused to celebrate his goal. He explained that the players from Uruguay are his friends who taught him a lot of things, so he saw no reason to celebrate.
Despite the incident, Muslera still holds a prominent goalkeeping position. In the current year 2023, he became the champion of the Super Lig with his team Galatasaray, which thus secured its 23rd league title in its history.
Lessons from goalkeeping mistakes
Football goalkeepers are constantly under immense pressure. And although they undergo regular and rigorous physical and mental training, they may occasionally make mistakes regardless of whether they are top-level players or amateurs in regional leagues. Moreover, their errors are often deeply scrutinized and dissected by the team, the public, and the media, which adds further pressure on the players. So how can they cope with such influences?
The important thing is to analyze the mistake
Poor decision-making, lack of concentration, succumbing to external influences, or unconscious health issues, these reasons and many others can lead to a player's hesitation resulting in a change in the match outcome. The key is first and foremost a proper analysis of the problem and identifying the cause to prevent mistakes in the future.
Mental resilience comes first
Mental training and strong psychological resilience are essential in sports, especially in football goalkeeping. All mistakes and subsequent reactions from the surroundings can either motivate players to improve or unsettle them and negatively affect their future performances. Baggio, Karius, and Muslera did not give up; they worked on their weaknesses and trained to regain the necessary confidence and trust of coaches and fans. And in some cases, like with Schumacher, it was necessary to swallow one's own ego and admit the mistake first to oneself. Because, just like in life, in football too, without self-confidence, nobody can expect trust from others and move forward.
