Kay Michelsen, Head of Program at TechBBQ:
»When you talk about vital moments and have games that mean something both for the football team but also the community, your fans who are so attached to you guys, whether it's a World Cup or domestic game, how do you take lessons from mental health or dealing with that kind of loss where it's pretty heavy?«

Sol:
»I think the heavy weight of losing for your national team is much more demanding than anything else. I've had too many losses because of referee decisions, close calls, penalties, or whatever. I played three World Cups and three European Cups in my country. We came close a couple of times to move on to the next level, but the losses are heavy because the World Cup is so precious and played only every four years.«

Keyvan:
»How is that?«

Sol:
»You know, once the opportunity is gone, it's gone — nothing you can do about it. If you're France, you know, you're probably going to win it every 12 years or so because the team is so stellar. They're going to produce an amazing team every decade. But for us, it weighed heavy on our hearts, and it hurt much more because we didn't know what the future would hold.«

Keyvan:
»What makes you say that?«

Sol:
»Well, in my case, I remember I was 21 at the European championship in 1996, where we lost in the semifinals against Germany on penalties. I thought, "Hey, this is still good; we'll win the next time; we are going to get there," or have another opportunity to go far in the tournament. But it didn't happen. So, it's a rare thing, a gem.«

Kay:
»How did you support each other in the weeks and months after?«

Sol:
»Back in the day, it was more like "let's get on with it," while today, you reflect more about the lost opportunities and realize how precious every moment was and think "if you just did this, if you just did that," things would be different.«

Keyvan:
»Looking at the contrary, what is the most fun moment or rewarding part of your footballing career?«

Sol:
»For me, it's having a two-decade footballing career. I was lucky enough to play 20 seasons with only some limited injuries. With all its ups and downs, from crucial and heroic tackles, scoring important goals, helping my teammates win, making mistakes, and practicing day in and out. Participating in the game I love, being in a competitive environment with great players, managers, and teammates, and writing football history was a great honor. It was a privilege as well to be able to perform on such a consistent level for such a long time.«

Keyvan:
»It sure sounds like it.«

Sol:
»Let's not forget all the traveling and the pressure of media; the internal and external expectations from yourself and your coach to perform well also played a huge role. To be able to deal with all of that and to still focus on the game to get a win for your team on the pitch required discipline, a good fitness level, and a winner's mindset.«

Keyvan:
»What's next for you? Could you see yourself as a full-time manager for a football team?«

Sol:
»I've done it twice already. Going forward, I love to. But I'm waiting for the right environment. I need the right people above me and around me. The ecosystem has to be correct. I'm not doing that at the moment.«