As part of an ongoing series, FIFA.com delves into some of oddest, goofiest and most manic superstitions of players around the world – present and past.
About his slew of habits, Chelsea captain John Terry says: “I always sit in the same seat on the team bus, I always wrap tape round my socks three times, I listen to the same CD on the way to the stadium and I always park in the same spot before every game at Stamford Bridge.” Terry also admits to having a lucky pair of shinguards, given to him by Frank Lampard before the 2005 Carling Cup final.
World Cups are rich with superstitions. Italian midfielder Gennaro Gattuso says he read a few pages of Dostoevsky before every match of World Cup 2006. At France 1998, host-nation-skipper Laurent Blanc kissed the bald head of keeper Fabien Barthez before each game of Les Bleus’ triumphant campaign. The France team also played Gloria Gaynor‘s hit “I Will Survive,” the most popular karaoke choice by women the world over, prior to taking the field.
Argentina keeper Sergio Goycochea, who earned worldwide fame for his penalty saves at Italy 1990, credits his heroics to urinating in the center circle, blocked from view by teammates, prior to shootout victories over the former Yugoslavia and Italy in the quarterfinal and semifinal, respectively. Goycochea repeated the ritual prior to quarterfinal and semifinal shootout triumphs at the 1993 Copa America, against Brazil and Colombia respectively. Argentina’s success in this competition marks its last major trophy success.