--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is possible to make a slow start and…" description: "\"It is possible to make a slow start and still win it - look at Spain in 2010, beaten by Switzerland in their first match but world champions a few week..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c74/marcel-desailly-5030_football_it-is-possible-to-make-a-slow-start-and_1381868.png" --- # It is possible to make a slow start and still win it… ![“It is possible to make a slow start and still win it - look at Spain in 2010, beaten by Switzerland in their first match but world champions a few weeks later.” quote by Marcel Desailly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c74/marcel-desailly-5030_football_it-is-possible-to-make-a-slow-start-and_1381868.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c74/marcel-desailly-5030_football_it-is-possible-to-make-a-slow-start-and_1381868.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c74/marcel-desailly-5030_football_it-is-possible-to-make-a-slow-start-and_1381868.png) > “It is possible to make a slow start and still win it - look at Spain in 2010, beaten by Switzerland in their first match but world champions a few weeks later.” [Marcel Desailly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-desailly/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A slow start doesn’t preclude ultimate victory, as shown by Spain’s turnaround after an early loss. **In simple terms:** Early setbacks can be overcome. Key Takeaway Stay resilient after early defeats. Themes resilience sports underdog Mood optimistic strategic Type sports motivational When to use this quote - tournament play - project launches - personal goals Key Concepts strategy teamwork Questions to Reflect On - What factors enable a comeback? - How can you prepare for early setbacks? A Different Perspective Not all slow starts lead to success. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [My form with Denmark hasn't been too bad. I got off to a very slow start with five goals in my first 50 games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-eriksen/my-form-with-denmark-hasn-t-been-too-bad-i-got-off-to-a-very-slow/) [Christian Eriksen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-eriksen/) > [Sometimes you have an exceptional international team, such as Spain in 2010, but club football is better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-van-basten/sometimes-you-have-an-exceptional-international-team-such-as-spain-in/) [Marco van Basten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-van-basten/) > [Do NOT start with me. You will NOT win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-not-start-with-me-you-will-not-win/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's always great to play at home. I won here last year and it's great to start with a win like this today. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustavo-kuerten/it-s-always-great-to-play-at-home-i-won-here-last-year-and-it-s-great/) Gustavo Kuerten > [It took mad failures for me to start to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-east/it-took-mad-failures-for-me-to-start-to-win/) [Dave East](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-east/) > [I had a slow start at West Ham, that's right. 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I'm not sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sumner-redstone/the-reason-we-have-not-gone-to-newspapers-is-because-its-a-slow/) [Sumner Redstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sumner-redstone/) > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) ## More by Marcel Desailly > [The way to win is to win together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-desailly/the-way-to-win-is-to-win-together/) [Marcel Desailly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-desailly/) > [To experience playing with other big players, to be maybe a second choice. To face difficulty, a new language for his family. It's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-desailly/to-experience-playing-with-other-big-players-to-be-maybe-a-second/) [Marcel Desailly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-desailly/) > [Honestly when you look at football when Sepp Blatter was made FIFA president in 1998, the global budget for the World Cup in France,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-desailly/honestly-when-you-look-at-football-when-sepp-blatter-was-made-fifa/) [Marcel Desailly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-desailly/) > [Because he knows he has the talent to change games, you get the impression Neymar wants to be the one to do that something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-desailly/because-he-knows-he-has-the-talent-to-change-games-you-get-the/) [Marcel Desailly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-desailly/) > [In 2002 we went into the first World Cup in Asia as reigning champions and we had also added the European crown in 2000,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-desailly/in-2002-we-went-into-the-first-world-cup-in-asia-as-reigning/) [Marcel Desailly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-desailly/) > [This is the sort of situation I enjoy: a game in the San Siro, a huge crowd and a night for big men. Remember,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-desailly/this-is-the-sort-of-situation-i-enjoy-a-game-in-the-san-siro-a-huge/) [Marcel Desailly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-desailly/) > [Giroud is the perfect team-mate and player for the France national team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-desailly/giroud-is-the-perfect-team-mate-and-player-for-the-france-national/) [Marcel Desailly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-desailly/) > [As a player, Di Matteo helped build the foundations of a winning mentality that Chelsea was in need of at the time. He was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-desailly/as-a-player-di-matteo-helped-build-the-foundations-of-a-winning/) [Marcel Desailly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-desailly/) > [Lyon is a big club, but it's not Milan, Barcelona or Chelsea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-desailly/lyon-is-a-big-club-but-it-s-not-milan-barcelona-or-chelsea/) [Marcel Desailly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-desailly/) > [Smaller nations now believe in their capacity to cause problems and to challenge the traditional powers of world football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-desailly/smaller-nations-now-believe-in-their-capacity-to-cause-problems-and/) [Marcel Desailly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-desailly/) > [I'm not like those who moan about having little teams at these competitions - for me that's what the World Cup is all about.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-desailly/i-m-not-like-those-who-moan-about-having-little-teams-at-these/) [Marcel Desailly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-desailly/) > [Ronaldo has never won anything with Portugal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-desailly/ronaldo-has-never-won-anything-with-portugal/) [Marcel Desailly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-desailly/) > [To compete with Spain and France you have to copy the model that we have established in the clubs. You have to start from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-desailly/to-compete-with-spain-and-france-you-have-to-copy-the-model-that-we/) [Marcel Desailly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-desailly/) > [I nearly signed for Monaco because it was a more stable club. My family were in favour of Monaco. At Marseille everything is more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-desailly/i-nearly-signed-for-monaco-because-it-was-a-more-stable-club-my/) [Marcel Desailly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-desailly/) > [I remember we had a terrible start to the 2002 World Cup, losing to Senegal when we were the reigning world and European champions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-desailly/i-remember-we-had-a-terrible-start-to-the-2002-world-cup-losing-to/) [Marcel Desailly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-desailly/) [Explore all 104 Marcel Desailly quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-desailly/) ## More Football quotes > [When I came to Chelsea, it was clear that, like many other players, I would first be loaned out. 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I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [My team mates are fundamental for my characteristics, if they send in crosses I can play inside the area.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/filippo-inzaghi/my-team-mates-are-fundamental-for-my-characteristics-if-they-send-in/) [Filippo Inzaghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/filippo-inzaghi/) > [The Copa del Rey is a different competition. It is football in its purest form and is different from the continuity of the league.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-laudrup/the-copa-del-rey-is-a-different-competition-it-is-football-in-its/) [Michael Laudrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-laudrup/) > [“Wild card, got it," Duncan said. "Just like in Crazy Eights. I can be a diamond; I can be a spade. Whatever you need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-healy/wild-card-got-it-duncan-said-just-like-in-crazy-eights-i-can-be-a/) [Christopher Healy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-healy/) > [Leo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Eden. Every year, you look at their numbers - score goals, assists, minutes - to see they play very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro/leo-cristiano-ronaldo-neymar-eden-every-year-you-look-at-their/) [Pedro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro/) > [It's a lot harder to play football when you haven't got the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gray/it-s-a-lot-harder-to-play-football-when-you-haven-t-got-the-ball/) [Andy Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gray/) > [I just enjoy winning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xander-bogaerts/i-just-enjoy-winning/) [Xander Bogaerts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xander-bogaerts/) > [I think you can get, as a player, stuck in the mindset of trying too hard to prove yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trinity-rodman/i-think-you-can-get-as-a-player-stuck-in-the-mindset-of-trying-too/) [Trinity Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trinity-rodman/) > [We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/we-cannot-change-the-cards-we-are-dealt-just-how-we-play-the-hand/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) [Browse all 59,646 Football quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is possible to make a slow start and still win it - look at Spain in 2010, beaten by Switzerland in their first match but world champions a few weeks later.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Marcel Desailly" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-desailly/it-is-possible-to-make-a-slow-start-and-still-win-it-look-at-spain-in/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Football" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-desailly/it-is-possible-to-make-a-slow-start-and-still-win-it-look-at-spain-in/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c74/marcel-desailly-5030_football_it-is-possible-to-make-a-slow-start-and_1381868.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c74/marcel-desailly-5030_football_it-is-possible-to-make-a-slow-start-and_1381868.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c74/marcel-desailly-5030_football_it-is-possible-to-make-a-slow-start-and_1381868.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is possible to make a slow start and still win it - look at Spain in 2010, beaten by Switzerland in their…” — Marcel Desailly", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Marcel Desailly", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-desailly/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is possible to make a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-desailly/it-is-possible-to-make-a-slow-start-and-still-win-it-look-at-spain-in/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-desailly/it-is-possible-to-make-a-slow-start-and-still-win-it-look-at-spain-in/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```