Gareth Southgate's England side have made it to the final of the Euros 2024, where they will face Spain in a bid to be crowned champions.
After looking like an extra 30 minutes could be on the cards, a last-minute strike from substitute Ollie Watkins sealed the victory against the Netherlands in the semi-finals on July 10. While the country are fully behind the Three Lions, it's been a slow burner for the team, who won against Serbia, but then drew against Denmark and Slovenia early on in the competition.
However, after a win against Slovakia, and a draw against Switzerland, which went to penalties, and then another victory against the Netherlands - many are hoping captain Harry Kane will bring the team to victory.
And while most people will be keeping an eye on the players' performances this Sunday, there's another thing that's caught the attention of fans - and it's the socks of several England players. It appears players, including Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka and Conor Gallagher, have taken to cutting holes in their socks during the games.
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Getty Images)Image:
Andy Stenning/Daily Mirror)During the game against the Netherlands, the attention seemed to be on Jude Bellingham, who could be seen with several rips in his socks. "What is it with the back of Bellingham's socks?" asked one baffled fan on X/ Twitter. Another joked: "Thinking about starting GoFundMe for some new socks for Bellingham."
Another curious supporter asked: "Can someone explain to me why Bellingham's socks have three round circles in them? What is the benefit?" Another baffled fan mocked: "Please look for another sock supplier for the national team. These socks have holes in them."
So what's it all about? Is it a fashion statement? There's actually a clever reason why football players cut holes in their socks - and it's to help prevent injury. Football fans will know socks are used to keep leg muscles warm and keep shin guards in place.
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AFP via Getty Images)While incredibly useful, they are also quite tight and restrictive - and can cause problems with effective blood flow and circulation. And according to players and various experts, cutting holes in socks can help relieve pressure - and therefore helping to prevent possible injury.
Back in 2021, Kyle Walker explained: "The socks were actually too tight so it was causing pressure on my calves. It was just to release my calves - or release the tension. I just cut holes in them and all of a sudden I had a few alright games, and I was like, 'Ok, I'm keeping this now!"
Dr Stefaan Vossen, founder of Core Clinics, previously explained in more detail the scientific reason for cutting the socks. Speaking to The Mirror, he explained that because players use new socks for every game, it can make them feel very tight when they aren't worn in.
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Getty Images)He continued: "As the match goes on, footballers' calves will swell as they fill with blood due to exertion. This can cause the socks to feel tight. The last thing players want to do is restrict blood supply in their legs, so over-tight socks could be a real issue. On the other hand, a level of compression can improve performance by reducing muscle fatigue."
So some players will therefore cut holes in areas they feel tight, or have had problems in previous games. And according to Dr Vossen, there are psychological benefits as well as physical. "Footballers have extensive pre-match preparation rituals and whenever they find something that they feel improves their performance they'll want to repeat this," he explained.
In addition, Dr Vossen added: "The compression effect of socks can reduce fatigue during extended exercise and reduce post-exercise swelling. However, a badly fitted or over tight sock can reduce oxygen supply to the muscle, cause irritation during play, and increase the risk of thrombosis (the formation of a blood clot - a medical emergency).
"By customising the sock with strategically placed holes footballers can achieve the ideal level of compression for their thighs throughout the match."
