Superstitions at World Cup casting a spell on players
Some players believe World Cup success is earned through exercise, diet and endless practice drills -- others are convinced it’s a matter of wearing lucky underwear.
Players and coaches can be a superstitious bunch and often have a ritual or item of clothing they believe is a charm that has contributed to a winning run.
They range from former Colombian keeper Rene Higuita’s insistence on wearing blue underpants to current German striker Mario Gomez’s habit of only using the far-left urinal to relieve himself before a match.
Gomez’s Germany teammate Julian Draxler gives himself a spritz of scent before a big match.
“Sometimes my teammates ask me if I’m not right in the head,” the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder said.
“Every player has a ritual before a match and I usually hold my bag in my locker and I throw on two or three sprays of perfume. It gives me a feeling of happiness.”
Sports psychologist Dan Abrahams, author of the book “Soccer Tough”, said so many match-day factors are beyond a player’s control that adopting a ritual or lucky charm provides something to focus on and take charge of.
“Logically, these kinds of rituals aren’t linked to performance,” he said. “However, if a player creates the perception that they are, then the action can become a hinge factor for how a player feels,” said the specialist, who works with Premier League club Bournemouth.
England’s Dele Alli is using the same shin guards he has worn since childhood, hoping they bring the good fortune that has eluded the Three Lions at international tournaments.
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