And thank God for that.
Because what would we do if our champions did not miss a few penalty kicks? What would we do if every once in a while, these undisputed, alpha superheroes did not stand there, heartbroken, weeping and publicly defeated, before a crowd of millions? What would we tell our children then?
How would we put across the message to boys that it is okay to cry if they had not seen Bukayo Saka, 19, sobbing and being comforted on the sweaty manly chests of his teammates, even as Gianluigi Donnarumma, 22, was raised aloft on the shoulders of his?
When footballers go out there to take (or face) penalty kicks under tremendous pressure, they are not just taking one for their country or their club— they are taking one for everybody in the whole world, and especially, they are taking one for all young boys and men.
This story is from the July 25, 2021 edition of THE WEEK.
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This story is from the July 25, 2021 edition of THE WEEK.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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