26th of May, 1999, Camp Nou, Barcelona.
Manchester United, one of the most decorated football clubs in England, were pitted against the giants of German and European football, Bayern Munich. The occasion being the final of the UEFA Champions League, to decide the best football club in the whole of Europe for the season 1998-99. The venue being Camp Nou, the home ground of the great Spanish Club, Barcelona.
The Final not only generated interest in Europe but was followed across the world. Bayern Munich found their bearings early and scored in the 6th minute of the game and then defended stoically for the next 84 minutes of the match. The final was well and truly in their grasp with just a few minutes of injury time left. Manchester United though, never gave up and continued to press hard for the equaliser and at that very moment, in the injury time, the game turned on its head, when Teddy Sheringham scored. Bayern Munich’s defence had been pierced, but there was more heartache to follow for the German club as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the Norwegian (presently the Manager of Manchester United), scored in the dying seconds of the game, to give Manchester United a famous victory. The whole world had witnessed something spectacular, something unprecedented.
But the story does not end here.
1100 miles north of the venue of the Football match, another major sports event was being held. England were hosting the 7th edition of the ICC Cricket World Cup. Australia one of the favourites of the tournament had a shaky start. After winning their first match against Scotland without much ado, the Australians lost to New Zealand at Cardiff and to Pakistan at Headingley. Australia were a bit out of sorts, and if they had to last the entire tournament, they needed to get going. Australian captain Steve Waugh, was watching the Champions League final and was astounded on seeing Manchester United’s stunning victory.
Steve Waugh and his team were truly motivated and inspired by the events at Camp Nou. Manchester United ‘s self belief and their unwavering focus had made them Champions. If Manchester United could win it, why not Australia. They had the team to beat anyone in the world. Self belief was the key. At Chester-le- Street the next day, Australia beat Bangladesh and then never looked back. After winning the Semi Final by the skin of their teeth against South Africa in an epic encounter, the Kangaroos went on to win the 1999 Cricket World Cup, beating Pakistan, in a one sided Final.
The 1999 victory of Australia in a tough, gruelling campaign had laid the foundation of Australia’s dominance in Cricket in the decade to follow. They bagged the next two World Cups as well with victories in 2003 and in 2007. Their juggernaut was eventually stopped by India’s victory in the 2011 World Cup. Steve Waugh later mentioned how inspirational the Champions League Final was, which helped turn the fortunes of his team.
Indeed, self belief is truly priceless. It puts you in a different league…the league of Champions.