Determined to bring the trophy back to England, manager Fabio Capello banned all soccer WAGS(wives and girlfriends) from staying overnight with his players during the 2010 FIFA World Cup — essentially placing a moratorium on his team’s sexual exploits. It has long been popular belief that sexual activities deprive an athlete of his competitive energies; however, with little scientific evidence in support of it, this notion lies mainly in the realm of superstition. The more likely scenario is that sex can affect players’ quality (or lack) of sleep — a factor that can directly translate to performance on the field. But how exactly does one enforce abstinence? Make the English side wear chastity rings? No. Big Brother (or, rather, Big Fabio) said he would check up on his stars through hi-tech TV sets installed in players’ rooms. Despite Capello’s efforts, his team lost out before the quarter-finals.
Top 10 Sports Superstitions
From the playoff beard to lucky shorts, sport stars are fond of using of unconventional measures to ensure their team's success in the big game. As the 2011 World Series kicks off, TIME takes a look at superstitions that have become intertwined with the wide world of sports