Is Britain’s negativity niggling with it’s success?

Last night, England rugby team have become the first home nations not to progress from the group stages. They were beaten 33–13 by one of the competition favourites, Australia, just a week after losing to arguably their biggest rivals, Wales.

Headlines such as “England Let the Country Down,” a statement made by the rugby team’s captain, Chris Robshaw, have been issued, but should the British press be looking at the story in a different light? Many would agree that thanks to the football media, England are seen as the laughing stock at each international competition of which they enter. Any great sportsman will tell you that to win, you first need to believe that you can succeed. The negative press has most likely been absorbed by the players and the proof is not in the pudding, but on the pitch.

In this day and age the messages the media speak is louder than ever and as a result it is being heard by the sportsmen, who strive each day to be the best at what they do, even clearer. What is the reason for the negative press? Can they not use positive headline to “carry them home” as the fans say? I’ll tell you why the headlines are negative, they are negative because as a British public we naturally are inclined to be more interested in other’s misfortune, even if they are representing us. Look at the news, whenever I watch it, there is something sad or bad as the headline, be it war or a car crash or a so-called celebrity committing a crime. Think about it, when in public there is some sort of argument between strangers, you instinctively want to watch and listen. It’s just a British thing I suppose as that is causing us to lose competitions. Eventually losing will just be something that we Brits are particularly good at.

This desire to put down sports stars of ours for losing is common. I think that everyone has at least called the England football captain Wayne Rooney Shrek at least once. Andy Murray is somebody that many of our nation seems to relate to for his pessimistic attitude. But even Murray is put down by the Brits, when he wins, he is British and when he loses, he is Scotland’s problem. Maybe that is why Lewis Hamilton doesn’t appeal to all, he perhaps is too successful for the liking of most Britons.

There is one thing for certain, Brits like a moan, but is it effecting the performance of our representatives on the international stage?

This post was originally published on my Medium Site on 4th October 2015