Curacao may be struggling to score on the pitch at this World Cup, but it has not been a problem off it.
The Caribbean island competing at their first World Cup have been treated to conjugal visits, with Dutch coach Dick Advocaat allowing his players to stay with their partners in their hotel in Florida.
An unusual move in modern international football, perhaps. Team hotels are typically sacred for players and staff, with families staying elsewhere to avoid distractions.
For the England national team, families have been kept away from the team hotel since chaos in Baden-Baden in 2006, where the WAGs enjoyed wild nights out and dominated the headlines. Four years later in South Africa, Fabio Capello limited players’ access to their partners.
Now, England are able to see their families throughout the tournament, but there are no overnight stays.
Bucking the trend is Curacao team doctor Suzanne Huurman, who explained that players are able to share their living quarters with a roommate or their families.
The only female doctor at the World Cup added that sex and family time has helped the Curacao team settle into life away from hope, with intimacy recommended for emotional support.
Curacao doctor Suzanne Huurman believes sex at major tournaments is helpful for footballers
Sharing rooms with family represents an unusual move in modern international football, with the team hotels typically sacred for players and staff
Curacao have taken one point from their opening two matches, drawing 0-0 with Ecuador before suffering a bruising 7-1 defeat to Germany
‘Players can stay with their teammates in the same room and, when there are children, the family receives an additional room,’ Huurman said.
‘It’s something quite unique in national team football. Curacao is a small country, with a very cheerful, warm and family-oriented people, something that reminds me a lot of Brazil.
‘Yes, I believe sex helps, but perhaps more on the emotional side than for a direct physiological effect.
‘In such a long tournament, having the family around reduces homesickness a little and brings tranquillity.
‘Many of our players do not play at the highest levels of world football. For many families, it would be too expensive to travel and stay for weeks in the United States on their own.
‘The federation decided to assume this cost so that the players can have their partners and children nearby. Some would probably be worried or stressed.’
Curacao have taken one point from their opening two matches, drawing 0-0 with Ecuador before suffering a bruising 7-1 defeat to Germany.
But for the island with a comparable population to Oxford – the smallest nation to ever qualify for a World Cup – being at the tournament represents success itself.
