England fans have been distracted by certain players’ legs this Euros 2024 – and it’s nothing to do with analysing the football they’ve been playing – but the holes cut into their socks
Can the England team not afford new socks? Is it a fashion statement? England fans have spotted some of the Three Lions, including Bukayo Saka, Conor Gallagher and Jude Bellingham, keep turning up to matches in the Euros 2024 with holes cut out of the back of their socks – and are understandably confused.
Tonight Gareth Southgate’s side go head-to-head with Netherlands in the semi-finals – the winners of which will meet Spain in the finals in a bid to be crowned European champions. And while all eyes will be on the team’s performance – it’s clear from the matches leading up to this one that footie fans can’t help but notice the clothing choice the lads have made.
One fan asked: “Can someone explain to me why some England players have holes in their socks?” Another asked: “What’s the holes in the socks about, noticed a few players with bits cut out of their socks.” One joked: “Can’t England afford to buy the players new socks, they have holes in them.” And 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? As most football fans will know, professional footballers use long socks, usually pulled up over their calves, to keep their leg muscles warm and also help keep their shin guards in place. They are incredibly useful – but they can also be quite tight and restrictive – which can cause problems with effective blood flow and circulation.
And it turns out the missing sock fabric isn’t a wardrobe malfunction – but a clever trick in order to help with these problems. During football matches, some players choose to cut holes in their socks to relieve pressure, and therefore avoid possible injury.
And some of the players have been doing it for years. Back in 2021, the oldest member of the squad, Kyle Walker, said: “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, backed up the scientific reason for cutting the socks. Speaking to The Mirror, he explained that footballers use new socks for every game, which can make them feel tight because they aren’t worn in.
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.”
In a bid to combat this, some footballers cut holes in their socks in areas where they feel tight or have had problems in previous games. Speaking about the physical benefits, Dr Vossen said: “While there’s likely to be genuine physical benefits of cutting customised holes in new socks there is also likely to be a psychological benefit.
“Footballers have extensive pre-match preparation rituals and whenever they find something that they feel improves their performance they’ll want to repeat this.”
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.”