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Want to perform in World Cup? Have 'sex', says study!

Last updated on: July 04, 2014 19:29 IST
Brazil fans celebrate on Copacabana Beach

The FIFA World Cup 2014 carnival in Brazil has reached the business end and we can sit and analyse the teams left in the fray.

It is clear now that all the countries that banned their players from having sex during the tournament have been eliminated.

Research has shown that those with a more relaxed view on the matter are enjoying better results on the pitch.

Sex could be the reason for the powerful performances of the last eight teams' left battling for footballs biggest prize, as per a new survey by website Quartz.

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Want to perform in World Cup? Have 'sex', says study!

Last updated on: July 04, 2014 19:29 IST
Yolanthe and Wesley Sneijder

Louis van Gaal made the decision to involve the ladies in his plans.

The Dutch coach allowed his players a visit from their families. 

"My principle is the overall picture. The player," he was quoted as saying by the Daily Mirror.

"His brain and his psyche plays a part. And the psyche is influenced by his environment. So I gave permission for the wives to visit the hotel and so the players could be happy."

The move worked... and is still working.

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Want to perform in World Cup? Have 'sex', says study!

Last updated on: July 04, 2014 19:29 IST
Fans celebrate on Copacabana beach

Pamela Supple, who's a sex and relationship counselor from Sex Therapy Australia, explained that being intimate helps men connect and relax by letting loose a lot of "feel-good" hormones and chemicals, News.com.au reported.

But it should be kept to a half-hour or an hour time period, which is apt for a sportsperson body to rejuvenate and feel fresh, followed by 8-9 hours sleep, as overdoing the activity could leave one very tired, she added.

Jurgen Klinsmann also has a similar philosophy.

The United States' coach allowed the wives and girlfriends to visit the team often.

"The families can come by pretty much anytime they want," he was quoted as saying.

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Want to perform in World Cup? Have 'sex', says study!

Last updated on: July 04, 2014 19:29 IST
Fans celebrate

Didier Deschamps wants to control when it comes to the extent. 

"It depends on when and how much," the France coach was quoted as saying.

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Want to perform in World Cup? Have 'sex', says study!

Last updated on: July 04, 2014 19:29 IST
A Honduras fan shows her support

Safet Susic was far more stricter. 

The Bosnia-Herzegovina coach forbid his players from having sex during the tournament. 

"This is not a holiday trip. We are there to play football at the World Cup," he reasoned. 

There was some concession, though. The players were allowed to masturbate!

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Want to perform in World Cup? Have 'sex', says study!

Last updated on: July 04, 2014 19:29 IST
Fans celebrate

Miguel Herrera wouldn't hear a plea. 

"No sex" for the duration of the tournament was the diktat of the Mexican boss. 

"Forty days of abstinence aren't going to hurt anybody," Herrera was quoted as saying.

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Want to perform in World Cup? Have 'sex', says study!

Last updated on: July 04, 2014 19:29 IST
Brazil fans kiss after watching the Brazil-Mexico match

Last, but not the least, we come to the home team. 

Luiz Felipe Scolari, Brazil's coach, was liberal, albeit a condition was imposed... that there should be only normal sex, sans any acrobatics.

"We will put limits on sex and survey the players," Scolari made it clear. 

It should be noted that while all the eight teams that remain in the battle for the 2014 FIFA World Cup had permitted intimate contact between players and their partners to some extent, the teams -- namely Russia, Chile, Mexico and Bosnia and Herzegovina -- had clearly banned sex, have been eliminated.