Spain are off to a flying start in the 2022 FIFA World Cup, as Luis Enrique’s boys thrashed Costa Rica 7-0 in their Group E opener. The 2010 champions silenced a number of critiques who had bashed them for playing ‘boring’ football and lack of goals in their pre-World Cup games. However, Spain came out all guns blazing and there was a goal galore at the Al Thumama Stadium. Ferran Torres snatched a brace, as Marco Asensio, Dani Olmo, Gavi, Carlos Soler, and Alvara Morata bagged one each.
This is a drastic change in the Spain team, which had managed just 8 goals in 6 games in its UEFA Nations League campaign. While Luis Enrique is undoubtedly one of the best managers of his time, with a fluid attacking style that was on full display during his Barcelona years, where he got the attack of Messi-Suarez-Neymar firing on all cylinders.
However, the same style was yet to be instigated in his Spain team, which now seems to be in full throttle. But the La Roja boss may have suggested that there’s one more reason for his player’s fine form at the World Cup. Enrique talked about the sex life of a player, which plays important at such tournaments on his Twitch Livestream.
My wife and I, we did what we had to – Luis Enrique on sex as a footballer
Luis Enrique elevated the Spain fans after he revealed that he would be setting up a live Twitch stream during the World Cup for them. The manager further added he will share updates from within the squad as well as match day happenings in order for fans back in the European nation to feel more connected to the team.
After Spain had a goal-feast against Costa Rica, Enrique was live on his Twitch, taking the questions from fans, where on being asked about whether he feels ‘ok’ for his players to indulge in sexual activities before a game, he responded:
“Here [in Qatar] we are in camp. You can’t. It’s a massive nonsense in general though. Obviously, if you have orgies the day before a game, it’s not the best, but within the boundaries of common sense. Everyone with their girlfriend, with their wife, or whomever they want.
“Here at the national team no, because we are in a camp. When they are with their clubs, players sleep at home. If they have sex, it doesn’t worry me, if they need it, if it does them good, zero worries. I am favour of the players living their lives as normally as possible. I consider it important. I as a player, well… when we could, my wife and I… Well we did what he had to do.”
It seems Luis Enrique is not pressurizing his players into following a particular sexual routine, unlike previous World Cup tournaments where managers famously demanded their players follow a strict cycle. Sex has been considered as a very important aspect of a footballer’s life, which could impact his on-field performances. Luis Enrique is not the first one to talk about it openly, since managers like Antonio Conte and former Mexico national team coach Miguel Herrera have also opined on the same.
Back in 2019, when he was the Inter Milan manager, Conte had advised his players to have sex in a particular manner, as he told L’Equipe: ‘During the season, [sexual] relationships must not last too long, we must do as little effort as possible. So stay under the partner.’
Its not a new phenomenon as evident, which Enrique has tried to speak about in his way. Nonetheless, his advice has so far worked for his player, who ran riot against Costa Rica. They are next up against four-time world champions Germany, who are desperate to collect their first win and bounce back from a shock defeat at the hands of Japan in their group stage opener.