Sitting in front of the TV all summer watching the Euros may be fun, but it’s not particularly healthy. By the time the soccer tournament reaches its final stages, some of us will have been pretty sedentary for the better part of a month, fueling on salty snacks and soda. But if you’re careful, you could actually improve your health and fitness while watching nonstop soccer matches this summer.
The Euros are essentially the most finely tuned and expensively developed collection of young athletes in the world. “There was a time when soccer lagged behind other sports in terms of sports science,” says James Witts, author of the book The Science of Soccer. Training Secrets of the World’s Best Soccer Players: How Science is Changing Modern Football.
“But nowadays, the huge amounts of money involved in football mean that elite football is at the forefront of athletes’ training. It’s about fundamental accountability. If you’re paying players £300,000 a week, you need to make sure they’re in the best physical condition possible.”
As a result, the latest trends in fitness, diet, recovery and sports psychology are all driven by the beautiful game. Here’s what ordinary people with busy lives can learn from the training methods of the eight Euro 24 quarter-finalists.
Drink pickle juice like the British do
“With such short breaks between matches, all participating teams will be focusing on muscle recovery,” said Nicolas Dion, a soccer fitness coach who has worked with top clubs in France and Switzerland. “Proper hydration is essential to prevent cramps during matches.”
When England left-back Kieran Trippier suffered cramps during the opening game against Serbia, he was seen drinking a packet of “pickle juice” at the side of the pitch. Research has found that the uncomfortably named drink reduces cramps 40 percent faster than plain water. As the drink contains sodium, potassium and vinegar, it is thought to not only replenish salt lost during exercise, but also trigger a reflex in the mouth that sends a signal to the brain to help stop muscle spasms.