Common Teams Rituals before Important Games: What They Do & How it Affects Private Life

When there is a high-level game or just a competitive match, many fans are concerned with team news to determine their team strength. Diehard fans can’t wait to see their respective teams treat them with a taste of good football. However, games are not predictable. There are several instances where underdogs have frustrated star-studded teams and only luck was needed to unlock the tie. This is why several players, including some high-profile players, coaches, or fans, believe in rituals before essential games. These rituals are meant to bring luck and chase away misfortunes. Let’s take a peek at some of the common rituals before essential games.

Lucky Gear

There are many fans and players who swear by their lucky gear. Many fans will wear the same scarves and other clothing for games. One of the players who have a gear ritual is Jack Grealish. He actually used the same boots in the Championship, till they were battered. John Terry is another man who had many pre-game rituals. The former Chelsea captain was a no-nonsense defender during his spell at Stamford Bridge. Back then, JT didn’t have just one or two. He had a collection of practices! For example, he had a lucky pair of shin guards he wore for ten years! He used to sit on the same seat every time they traveled for a game. He also used to listen to the same Usher music on the way to the pitch. John Terry admits that he is superstitious, and every time superstition wins, he adds up to his list!

Sex or No Sex?

Some fans believe in having good sex before a game. Some will even spice up the experience to take some booze and meet new people. If you are one of those who love meeting new people, then you try to find local singles and maybe match a compatible partner. So online dating can give desperate fans an opportunity to present their team a better game. Dating sites that specialized on local matches are surely popular during the World Football Championship or UEFA EURO. Whether you are looking for one-night stands with passionate football fans or believe in real love and long-term relationships with a person who shares your sport interests, you can surely try online dating. There is no information that players use such websites while official games around the world. But fans have much more freedom.

Now, sex or no sex has always generated some divide among players. Legends like the Brazilian Ronaldo said that it did actually make him a better player. The English team was reportedly allowed to shoot their wags during the 2018 World Cup. Some players stay away from sex before games. Zlatan Ibrahimovic is one of the players who see sex before games as bad omen.

Coming in Last!

Some players like coming in last out of the tunnel. Cristiano Ronaldo is perhaps one player known for this. Arguably the best player in the world for over a decade now, he has always insisted on being the last player to leave the tunnel. Even in the 2018 UEFA Champions League final, he was the last Real Madrid player to enter the pitch. In fact, he also enters the pitch with his right leg first. In his days at Real Madrid, the Portuguese always insisted on sitting next to his national compatriot Pepe on all flights. He also made sure that he was the first player to get off the plane.

The Halfway Stance

Jurgen Klopp needed not many years to bring some highly-coveted trophies to Anfield. Mention the EPL Title and the UEFA Champions League trophy he won in 2020 and 2019, respectively. Although the lion’s share of the efforts towards realizing that dream goes to on-pitch preparations, Klopp himself ensured he kept to his rituals all along. One of his pre-game rituals is to stand on the halfway line watching the opposition warm-up!
Before winning a major trophy with Liverpool, Klopp also refused to touch the “This is Anfield” sign. He cited the fact that he touched when he was Dortmund manager and subsequently lost 5-0 to Liverpool in a friendly.

Kiss the Ring for Luck

It is common for players to kiss their ring fingers after scoring. Some also do this before games. Cesc Fabregas is one of those who does this pre-game ritual. Many fans will remember him as one of the finest midfielders in his prime. He marshaled the midfield, sprayed several killer passes, and even scored several magnificent goals. Before removing the ring, he got it from his wife, Cesc Fabregas will always kiss it four times. He says he started this tradition and has since brought him fortunes in the game. He chooses four times because 4 is his lucky number. This explains why he even donned the number 4 shirt, a number often taken by central defenders.

Wrap up

Many high-profile players are superstitious. Even though their level of skill and game ingenuity is on another level, many of these stars believe that pre-match rituals have a role in their general performance. Of course, most of these rituals are weird, and some are so absurd to even believe they have a hand in games. Regardless, many of the top stars swear by them!