While England ’s five penalty-takers appeared to be remarkably calm in their shootout win against Switzerland , could the same be said for the nation’s supporters watching at home? Earlier last week, data released by wearable technology company WHOOP illustrated that Cristiano Ronaldo’s heart rate was at its lowest as he stepped up to take a high-pressure penalty for Portugal in the shootout against Slovenia . Ronaldo is a global ambassador and investor in WHOOP and wears the device to monitor his performance, recovery and health. But how might a supporter’s heart rate respond to the stress of a big quarter-final — one that ended in a penalty shootout? The Athletic asked writer James McNicholas to strap on a WHOOP band while watching England’s match against Switzerland from his sofa.
He shares his findings...
15 minutes to kick-off: A sharp spike here as my heart rate shoots up to around 115 beats per minute (bpm). I attribute this to the moment I found out that Gareth Southgate intends to play Kieran Trippier at left wing instead of switching Bukayo Saka to that flank and playing Trent Alexander-Arnold on the right. 3rd minute: My heart rate surges as my toddler presses a button on my remote control, meaning I am now watching a service called ‘Rakuten TV’ instead of the quarter-final.
Order is quickly restored, and the remote control is expertly hidden. 15th minute: Harry Kane appeals for a penalty. This near-flat line illustrates that not even I — a dedica.
