There's nothing quite like the wave of excitement that sweeps through the living room, the pub or the stands when that ball hits the back of the net. It's enough to get even the shyest person up on their feet screaming with excitement. So don't hold back during the football, because that rollercoaster of joy, anticipation and - yes - even disappointment is all worth it. Here's why:
Happy hormones
That build-up of anticipation might feel unbearable, but it's actually beneficial to your body. A study from the UC Irvine College of Medicine found that looking forward to a fun event caused stress-inducing hormones in the body to drop, while stress-reducing hormones that play a part in making us feel happy increased.
Thrills and spills
You might find the tension and stress of a close-run game unbearable. But a study of American football fans published in the Journal of Communication found that, oddly enough, we need that nail-biting tension and worry to really enjoy ourselves. Fans who took part in the study who were convinced their team was going to lose actually found the game far more thrilling!
Share the love
Find it hard to show how you feel about a partner or a friend? There's no better excuse to give them a hug than a glorious goal. Blokes aren't known for their willingness to express emotions - yet a survey from the Mental Health Foundation found that more than 75 per cent of men would think nothing of hugging a mate during a game.
Rage release
If the match isn't going well, take heart - shouting 'Offside!' in fury at the TV (even if you're not exactly sure what it means) can actually be therapeutic. It's a great way to release tension and aggression harmlessly - and nobody's going to tell you to calm down.
Claire Sutton, Marketing Manager from Ryvita, says: "Great - now I've got a great comeback when a goal is scored and my husband tells me to calm down when I'm jumping around the room and yelling my head off! How are you planning to celebrate the Cup? Let us know!"
References
Anticipation: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2002-11/uoc--eal110502.php
Thrills: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-11/osu-dbh111609.php
Hugging: http://www.mhf.org.uk/media/news-releases/news-releases-2006/23-may-2006/
Tension: http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/information/mental-health-a-z/football/
