To which he might have added: pre-tournament confidence is quickly dashed as structural weakness become apparent, leading to the team returning early, bitter postmortems on what went wrong, and calls for the manager's head.
They are a young team and a team who have done well in recent tournaments; confidence is very high.
Before the tournament begins, confidence and momentum vary depending on form following the autumn internationals.
"It came out really nicely, which is pleasing and really good for our preparation," said Hampshire's Briggs, 21. "It's good to go into a tournament with confidence, and I hope that can carry on.
"Winning tournaments builds confidence and that is crucial," Olazábal said.
At last this team can again face qualification for major tournaments with confidence.
Perhaps the difference at this tournament is simply confidence.
Brodeur said the Devils entered the tournament "with zero confidence" because they slumped in the fourth quarter of the season.
Greece surprised Portugal, 2-1, on the opening day and has used that victory, its first in a major tournament, to build confidence.
Raheem Sterling is going into the tournament with brittle confidence after losing his form for Manchester City since the turn of the year.
