The only (right) way to lose in the World Cup is pretty obvious.

It doesn’t even matter that this World Cup had 48 teams and 104 games.

In every one of those 104 matches, but ok, specifically for the 32 knockout round matches where it’s win or go home - there’s only one good way to lose.

Should we cover the bad way first?

Let’s cover the bad way first.

U.S. I’m looking at you.

England - sorry, but you should hear this, too.

The bad way to lose is to fizzle out.

The bad way to lose is to get toyed with and kicked to the curb.

The bad way to lose is to look like you have no strategy, or no energy, or a bad strategy with poor energy combined, and like you wished the game ended way before the final whistle.

Which leaves us with the right way to lose.

And, this is a good way to lose anything where it’s a win or go home outcome.

To paraphrase John Oliver,

The only thing you can semi-control is that if or when you lose, you lose gloriously.

You have to go down, swinging.

You have to burn all the way to the end, like a crazy person, raging against the dying of the light.

Better to burn out than fade away.

I say this with the World Cup over, and with my heart heavy, still by the way the US went out, and as a reminder to ourselves, and the other 47 teams.

There’s only one winner in this tournament.

Congratulations Spain, and glorious loss, Argentina.

But, to the U.S.,

For next time, please remember: lose gloriously.

Ps. Here’s John Oliver on Men In Blazers making this point: