Economics in Football match

The basic concept of economics is to utilize limited resources and fulfill maximum wants. In other words, an economist is considered to be the best economist if he has capability to have maximum satisfaction from the least resources he keeps; this refers to his best quality of decision making. A coach in any sports performs as an economist that has responsibility to take such decision which brings maximum level of satisfaction. Wins give the maximum satisfaction to the nation and players are always supposed to be the limited resources for the coach. Lack of Neymar Jr. and Thiago Silva proved that if an economist (coach) is not capable and efficient, he cannot satisfy his nation by utilizing the resources he possesses. Brazil boss Luiz Felipe Scolari admits that he is the only responsible for such horrible Seven-one defeat. He said “I would be remembered as the coach to lose 7-1 but I knew that risk when I took the job. He is the same coach, the one who guided Brazil to the 2002 World Cup trophy. He admitted that he is not a good economist the one who could not utilize his limited resources (non-availability of Naymar Jr. and Thiago Silva) and failed to bring maximum satisfaction for Brazilian nation. He said, “The person who decided the line-up, the tactics, was me. It was my choice." Thus, bad choices always bring bad consequences.

On the other hand, the German team played like a unit. When teams play like a unit, their every player brings the same level of satisfaction or output. The same phenomenon is applicable in indifference curve. The indifference curve can be stated as “A diagram depicting equal levels of utility (satisfaction) for a consumer faced with various combinations of goods”. When it is applied to the game it states as “A diagram depicting equal level of utility (output or result) for a team faced with various combination of players”. This further can be explained by saying that when team plays with unity every player plays as a super star. The diagram below shows that every player whether its player A or player B, both are providing the same level of satisfaction to the team. It is bit harder for us to choose that which player is worthier than the other.

Brazil needs to learn from German team. German team shows extreme coordination and team work. This is not the end but it can be the beginning of an end for Brazil. Brazil has given many super stars to soccer lovers, but this is the ultimate time for Brazil to be super star team not the superstar’s team.

Imran Awan
Freelance Writer