Germans Have Fans, Testosterone on their Side

Germany is off to its best World Cup start in 32 years and if you are to believe that scientific research at least part of that success can be attributed to testosterone. Findings from a study of the way sports team perform when they are playing at home suggest that Germany might benefit from a biological advantage of playing in their home country.

A study of football and ice- hockey teams carried out by scientists in Canada has revealed that team members playing at home experience higher levels of testosterone, the male sex hormone, compared with those playing away. And the authors of the report suggest an evolutionary behavioural link — relating to the basic need to protect territory.

There you have it. Germany’s team is more manly then the rest of the field. Lukas Podolski might be the exception to that rule but he isn’t having a great World Cup anyway.