FIFA World Cup 2014: Top Teams Adopt 'Have Sex, Score Goals' Policy

If Neymar or Oscar scores a brilliant goal and takes Brazil to the semifinal of the FIFA World Cup 2014, it may not be just because of their amazing soccer skills. Brazil may have summoned a psychologist to prepare them for the challenging quarterfinal match against Colombia on Friday night (1:30 AM IST, Saturday) in Fortaleza, but behind all this is a liberal policy on players' having sex at the right time. This masterstroke could just produce the 'hard' difference between victory and defeat. (Complete FIFA World Cup coverage | Germany vs France preview | Brazil vs Colombia preview)

 

Gabriella Lenzi, the girlfriend of Brazil's forward Neymar .

© AFP

Brazilian paper Lance says all eight teams in the quarterfinals of the FIFA World Cup have had a liberal policy of allowing players to spend time with their partners during down time (non-training or non-match periods). The eight teams - Bosnia, Chile and Russia among others -- that lost in the pre-quarterfinal stage apparently had stringent 'no-sex' policy, reports claimed.

Several studies have previously suggested that sexual intercourse up to two hours before an event does not adversely affect the performance of high level athletes. Top teams like Netherlands, Germany and France have allowed players to see their wives and girlfriends. (In pics: French WAGS soak up the Brazilian sun)

 

Netherland's Dirk Kuyt (C) with his wife Gertrude and son during a team training session at The Flamenco Football Stadium.

© AFP

According to a report in the Sydney Morning Herald, six of the eight teams remaining in the World Cup have not specifically asked their players to abstain from sex, but have put in place specific guidelines regarding the duration and positions players can experiment with while they're in Brazil.

It has been reported that Brazilian players were given days off after some games and team boss Luiz Felipe Scolari was okay with "normal sex" but warned players not to indulge in anything too "acrobatic".

Former Brazil forward Romario said having sex before a game helped him relax and play better while the late Socrates, who had six children, wrote that results were "exceptional" when he had sex the night before and the morning after a game.