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I can't help but pity US sports fans. They don’t go through enough national athletic disappointment. Alright, they experienced an invigorating shot of misery this past Sunday evening losing the prestigious golf event, but that was an uncommon occurrence for them. It's unusual because they hold such supremacy in all the team sports that truly matter to them, particularly since their biggest team sports – certainly NFL and the national pastime – do not see participation by other nations. Or maybe not in such a way that an overseas team is set to almost defeating them in any meaningful “international tournament” contest. Basketball, in all honesty, is globally practiced across the globe but essentially comparable circumstances prevail – the American male team have been top podium finishers 17 times from twenty tournaments; in the women's division it has been nine out of 12. Ice hockey is somewhat distinct. Regarding hockey, US teams haven’t had it all their own way, and in Canada have a real regional adversary. This could be an explanation the former president suggests about annexing them.

Thus, why feel sorry for them? To begin with, how reduced is the thrill of victory if you’re winning continuously? As a fellow with whom I go to the football always says after a miserable defeat: without despair there is no joy.

Losing takes practice, which is why I can almost forgive the quite appalling actions of a portion of the US crowd in the past few days

Defeat requires experience, that's the reason I can almost forgive the pretty despicable behaviour of certain US spectators during the tournament during the event. They don’t know how to do it. So they just resort to nastiness. And worse, although the US squad had shown great skill and nearly pulled off a stunning turnaround, fans were exiting en masse, marching away amid a group pout. It appeared there was no any staying behind to acknowledge the victorious team and, significantly, honor their national athletes who , ultimately, did themselves great credit in challenging Europe intensely. Heading out in the direction of transit, it appeared they were embodying a sports legend: “Show me a good loser,” the NFL coach notably stated, “and I’ll show you a loser.” Alright, understood. But he was talking about the players as opposed to their fans.

Americans rarely have the opportunity to gather behind their country's squad in the way other nations do. This is a precious experience for the people of a nation to go through together, moments to sense solidarity and belonging being uncommon. In crucial instances defeat holds equal importance as winning, regarding collective involvement. The morning after a championship loss for England I passed a mother and her young boy heading to school. They were from Indian descent. The boy sported an England shirt. I made a sad face to the child, and the mother's expression told me it had been a tough night for the whole family. I felt the same. We shared that experience. The three of us and countless people. Admittedly, it wouldn’t have been the ultimate goal for all 60-odd million, but it wasn’t nothing either. Scotland, Welsh supporters, and Northern Irish followers have shared such times as well, during which people were united together and feeling united. In Croatia – the second nation I care about – people often remark from what I've heard that there is constant disagreement among themselves continuously regarding every topic, except when the national football team takes the field in an important game.

I have witnessed England lose two Euro finals, and Croatia lose during a world championship finale. On all three occasions I headed back very disappointed, but I’ve never felt more at one with national citizens. Frankly, the Americans fail to realize the experience they are without.