Supporting England: An Emotional Experience
Supporting England in the World Cup is an emotional journey. From the nervous anticipation as the national anthems play, to the excitement of Harry Kane scoring a goal, and the joy of victory, the experience is intense. However, it also includes moments of disappointment, such as conceding a lead, the anxiety of penalty shoot-outs, and the heartbreak of losing to Italy and Spain in recent Euros finals. Fans often feel their heart race and hands become clammy with every kick of the ball.
It is evident that watching football has a physiological impact, but the question remains: is it beneficial or detrimental to our health?
To explore this, I enlisted two scientists from the University of South Wales to set aside national pride and conduct an experiment during England's opening World Cup match.
They transported their laboratory equipment in the boot of a car, and we convened at the Wiper and True Taproom in Bristol. While I appreciate the researchers' Welsh roots, we agreed that, scientifically, conducting the experiment in a Welsh pub might not be ideal, so we crossed the border.
Wires, Gizmos, and Cuffs
Arriving early, we settled at the back of a row of benches with a clear view of the projector screen. The scientific equipment was then unpacked.
"None of this is beer-proof let alone waterproof," said Prof Damian Bailey, with only a brief flicker of regret.
Damian and his PhD student Danny Walmsley spent approximately 15 minutes attaching various devices to me, transforming me into a partially robotic subject.
My left arm and hand were covered with probes, wires, gadgets, and cuffs. The procedure became even more unusual when ultrasound probes were affixed to my head, with gel applied above the ears to measure cerebral blood flow.
I chewed on an absorbent stick to collect a saliva sample, which could be analyzed for around 2,000 proteins, including stress hormones like cortisol. I was concerned the pre-match pepperoni pizza might have contaminated the sample.
As kick-off approached, I breathed into a device resembling a child's spinning top to record my breathing rate and carbon dioxide output.
By this stage, I resembled an extra in a low-budget Star Wars parody, and we were certainly the pre-match entertainment in a now crowded pub.
The equipment was designed to monitor my body's changes on a second-by-second basis throughout the Croatia match.
When the referee started the game, I felt exhilarated.
"I think tonight is going to be a real humdinger and that's great for us," said Bailey. "I want to see a stress response, excitement, emotional anxiety, fear, shouting, forgetting to breathe, perhaps breathing too much, all of the above."
Initial readings showed my heart rate at about 54 beats per minute and blood pressure at 115 over 75.
"Everything is relaxed, despite the fact there are about 500 people staring at you," Bailey joked.
His prediction of a thrilling match was accurate; the game featured six goals and many emotional highs and lows.
Early drama included a Kane penalty. A goal seemed certain, but the shot was saved. However, the referee ordered a retake after the Croatian goalkeeper was off his line. Kane scored on the second attempt, prompting cheers from the crowd.
Disappointment followed as Croatia equalised, England regained the lead, but then squandered it, ending the first half tied at 2-2. The emotional rollercoaster created ideal conditions for the experiment.
Half-Time Observations
During half-time, we checked in with fellow England fans about their physical reactions.
Ollie, 23, described his heart as "going 50 times a second" and joked he might "keel over and die" from stress. Tim, 38, said he needed more England goals because "currently it's pretty bad for my health."
Beth, 27, was more relaxed: "I see my friends, I have a shout at the TV, I have a beer."
Unlike most of the crowd, we conducted the experiment sober to avoid alcohol's depressant effects influencing the results.
The second half was calmer. England dominated and ultimately won 4-2, turning tension into jubilation.
After the match, Damian and I discussed the findings in the unofficial "post-match analysis beer tent."
"Your physiology is performing beautifully," he said. "We see a stress response whenever something exciting happens."
Nerves of Steel
The first goal, Kane's penalty, exemplified this.
My heart rate hovered in the low to mid-50s for most of the match but rose to 69 beats per minute within half a second of the goal.
Blood pressure increased, and there was a decrease in carbon dioxide in my exhaled breath, suggesting slight hyperventilation, which led to reduced cerebral blood flow, according to Bailey.
Saliva tests showed cortisol levels rising from a relaxed 4.19 nmol/L before the match to a mildly stressed 5.15 nmol/L at the final whistle.
These indicators demonstrate a classic stress response. While stress is often associated with negative experiences such as work pressure or exams, Bailey explained that stress can also be positive.
"From an evolutionary perspective, stress is what keeps us alive," Bailey said, "by activating our fight-or-flight response."
He compared my physiological responses to "a mild form of exercise," though without calorie burning.
"You are elevating things that I would interpret as good for you, and you're recovering very quickly."
Therefore, watching England was beneficial for my health, but there is a caveat. My stress response is relatively low and described by Bailey as "almost Special Forces... you really are a cool customer I must say."
"You keep yourself physically active, you keep yourself in good shape."
However, this may not apply to everyone. Some individuals are "really sensitive" to stress, with heart rates potentially increasing by 50 to 60 beats per minute.
For those with pre-existing heart or brain conditions, stress could, in extreme cases, trigger a heart attack due to blood vessel constriction, increased pressure, and thickened blood, described as "like honey."
In some people, altered breathing can reduce cerebral blood flow, causing fainting from stress.
Ultimately, whether watching England is good for your health depends on individual factors. As for my body, I am ready for the next game.
Additional reporting and video journalism by Jamie Moreland.
