The champion(ship) mentality is at the core of this Team of the Week.
From Italy becoming the first nation ever to win the Davis Cup three times in a row, to Jamaica securing their first ever international gold medal in bobsleigh.
Nick simply had to get Southampton in there… and it’s probably best we don’t mention Sam’s pick.
Tonda Eckert
Southampton's Caretaker Manager
4 wins in a row...'nuff said. When Will Still got the sack at Saints, we all feared how the squad would move forward, after a string of awful performances. Then, the board announced the entirely unknown interim appointment of 32-year-old Tonda Eckert, promoted from coaching the club's youngsters. However, four wins in a row and all roads lead to Tonda! What a guy!
Eberechi Eze
Arsenal's No. 10
Let it all work out.
Jamaica Bobsleigh Team
First international gold medal
Very quickly moving on from Sam’s pick… You’d be forgiven for thinking Jamaica were the most successful bobsleigh nation ever after the hugely popular Cool Runnings. However, nearly 40 years since their Winter Olympic debut, they’ve just won their first international gold medal at the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation’s North American Cup. While the medal is a fantastic achievement, to quote the film… “A gold medal is a wonderful thing, but if you're not enough without one, you'll never be enough with one.”
Italy
Davis Cup champions
As the Davis Cup website says: “It’s Italy’s world and we’re all just living in it.” This after Italy secured a record third consecutive Davis Cup title, becoming the first nation to do so in the post-Challenge Round era. Flavio Cobolli came from a set and a break down to secure the win in front of their home fans, beating Spain 2-0 in Bologna.
