Triumph at the Seniors Football World Cup

Team England Emerges Victorious in Thailand

As a Sports Rehabilitator, I have had the privilege of experiencing countless triumphs and challenges faced by athletes. However, few experiences compare to the exhilarating journey as Lead Therapist for Team England at the Seniors Football World Cup in Thailand where England were crowned World Champions. In the following few paragraphs I document the remarkable journey of Team England, highlighting the crucial aspects of preparation, injury mitigation, the power of recovery, mental well-being, and, ultimately, their victory.

Preparing for Success

This prestigious tournament provides an opportunity for players over the age of 40 to showcase their talent, endurance, and love for the beautiful game. The preparation for such a significant tournament begins long before the players step onto the field. As therapists, our responsibility includes sourcing and organising appropriate equipment and consumables. To effectively prepare our medical travel bag and run on bag, we meticulously gather information on players’ past medical history, current injuries, niggles, and treatment preferences. This data allows us to anticipate the likely treatment requirements, identify players requiring immediate management, those at heightened risk of injury, or those likely to experience acute flare-ups of chronic conditions. This comprehensive preparation ensures we are ready to provide the best care possible to our team.

Mitigating Injury Risks

The primary objective of therapists is to reduce injury burden and optimise the physical condition of the players throughout the tournament. Building trust and effective communication between players and staff members is crucial in achieving this goal. Discussions about match minutes management and utilisation of substitutions are ongoing and ever-evolving until the final whistle. Each day in the tournament is a battle due to the congested schedule, with some games played within less than 24 hours of each other. This leaves us with a short window of opportunity to address existing injuries or physical limitations, ensuring that the players are in the best possible shape to compete once again.

Harnessing the Power of Recovery

Injuries are an inevitable part of competitive sports, and setbacks can occur just days before the start of a tournament. Our approach to recovery involves a range of strategies, including load management, hydrotherapy, effusion management, taping, pain management, exercise, manual therapies, and other modalities. These techniques expedite the recovery process, allowing players to gradually build up their playing minutes and even make decisive contributions, such as scoring a winning header in the World Cup Final. Unfortunately, not all stories end in glory. If a player sustains muscle strains during the tournament, it is unlikely for them to recover in time to participate further. Unfortunately we had a player side-lined due to the hamstring strain injury in group stages. Another soft tissue injury, this time to the adductor, has shortened one player’s participation in the final game. However, through careful management, many players who carried certain injuries and niggles such as hamstring tightness/soreness, thigh contusion, ankle sprain, cervical radiculopathy, and knee issues (OCD and meniscal) continued to participate in the tournament.

Nurturing Mental Well-being

In addition to physical care, the mental well-being of the players holds significant importance in achieving success. Establishing strong relationships with players during a short-term tournament can be challenging for therapists. However, it is essential to contribute to the team’s success. Keeping players well-informed about their injuries, prognosis, planned management, and the reasons behind decisions to withdraw them from training or playing helps build trust, maintain positivity, and manage expectations effectively.

The Glory of Victory

After a week of intense competition and a rollercoaster of emotions, Team England emerged victorious, a testament to the unwavering determination and dedication of the players and support staff. Being part of Team England’s journey and witnessing their remarkable victory was an unforgettable experience. I am immensely grateful to all the players and staff for allowing me to be a part of this amazing journey.

Player & Staff Testimonials

“Paulina was fantastic. Through her hard work, dedication and vast knowledge, she got me through the week unscathed so that I could compete on the field to play to my best ability.”

Lloyd

“I recently headed out to Thailand to represent England seniors in a football event, the only issue being a previous left knee medial meniscus issue being very delicate from a recent flare up, something that had also had surgery twice in the past. When stopping for a connecting flight to Qatar I could not even walk, that made me question if I could play any part in the tournament in Thailand, that was a demanding 5 games within a 6 day period. On the day of arrival I met with Paulina, the squad therapist for the next 10 days.

For the initial 4 days I was not involved with any squad training under the watchful eye of Paulina, aiming to reduce swelling, remove pain and strengthen the knee with several methods, with an aim to enable me to play some part in the tournament. When the tournament began I managed to play a small part in the initial game, I then increased my game time over the following days with increased involvement in the next 4 games, managed by Paulina, all the way to the final. During this period Paulina continued to support and treat me on a daily basis, again managing swelling, pain and strength, that included a match day strapping that offered me support and confidence to play.

Not only did Paulina support me medically but also mentally with discussion of how she was managing the injury and expectation of what could be achieved, as well as becoming a friend and enjoyable to be around. In the final I entered the game after 30mins due to the injury of another player, this then led to me scoring the goal in a 1-0 victory, something I am certain would not have been possible without Paulina’s support. I cannot speak highly enough of Paulina as a therapist and a person, I will always be thankful for her enabling me to play the part I did.”

Rob

“After nearly 20 years of playing professional football Paulina is as good as I’ve worked with. She displayed a fantastic amount of knowledge and professionalism, including helping me with a few stretches that I could have done knowing about 10 or so years ago! She held a group of former players together on and off the field with her expertise and personality. A quality addition to our World Cup winning squad.”

Luke

“Having worked with Paulina on previous years I know how professional she is. From start to finish she made sure all our players were on top form ready for the matches. Each game I had pre match rub down on my hamstrings knowing that we had plenty of games to get through. Midway through the tournament I was having trouble with my lower back which Paulina gave me treatment for using acupuncture. All the time explaining why she was doing the certain things. I know without the expertise of Paulina we wouldn’t have had the caliber of players able to make it through the full competition as we did. Big Thanks once again Paulina.”

Jonny

“I have recently returned from playing in an over 40’s football tournament in Thailand where unfortunately I sustained a muscular injury (hamstring) during the second group stage game, in the first half, after making a high intensity recovery run. Paulina responded to the initial injury when she entered the pitch and made a quick assessment that I would no longer be able to continue playing. After the match, Paulina checked on my well-being at the team hotel and notified me, that I could receive an assessment of the injury in the morning. Paulina communicated her availability for treatment in the morning via text message, as she had a number of players to treat before the game that afternoon.

On arrival for treatment the following morning, Paulina, conducted a number of test to identify the severity of my injury. On top of hamstring injury I was struggling with neural pain referred from my back. This obviously meant that I was unable to participate for the remainder of the tournament, which was upsetting. Paulina showed empathy and understanding towards my disappointment and stated she would continue to carry out treatment with the slight hope I could play in the later stages of the competition. Paulina showed great knowledge of the type of injury and methods utilised to best treat the impacted area. Although, I was unable to make the squad for the final game of the tournament, with Paulina’s approach to my recovery, there was a rapid decrease in the pain, discomfort and lack of mobility over the course of the 5 days I received treatment. Paulina, provided me with a range of strengthening techniques as part of my aftercare and rehabilitation on returning back to the UK. Paulina managed my injury with care and attention, whilst also providing medical support for other players pre and post match. 2 weeks following on from the injury, I have more freedom within my movement, with less pain. The affected muscle is now developing more strength, which has enabled me to progress my rehabilitation. I would like to place on record my thanks and gratitude to Paulina, for her time, care and assistance in providing excellent support throughout my time of injury.”

Tris

“During the tournament I sustained a contact ankle injury with minor ligament sprain. Initially Paulina did the strapping to help protect it and to help manage swelling, as well as advised me on some other early management options like elevation, gentle exercises and pool based rehab. In the further stages off a tournament Paulina taped my ankle before every match. My ankle felt supported and stable which increased my confidence, and more importantly there were no reactions to playing. This allowed me to continue my involvement in the tournament.”

Lee

“Once the Seniors World Cup begins – there is so little time between games, you have barely come out of the changing rooms and onto the coach before your mind is switching on to the following day’s game. There will be a brief catch up with Paulina as to what could be serious in terms of injuries, but usually it is case of waiting until she has done her early morning assessments on those carrying injuries we are managing and those who have picked up knocks in the match.

By the time I’m sitting down for breakfast, Paulina will have done a full report for me, advising who is definitely out of that day’s game, those players whose time on the field needs managing, to ensure we get them through the intense group stage of three games in three days. Each day there is a specific advise on the ‘knee crew’, the two players who we know will get reactions each game and their contributions have to be closely managed if they are to have any chance of playing the following day.

Paulina’s assessments are crucial and vital to our planning for the day, especially when provisionally looking at the team and shape for the forthcoming game alongside what we know about the opposition and how we wish to play. Before the final selection, I’d share with Paulina what we were thinking of doing and have a final clarification on what she feels we’ll get from the players in the conditions. During the group  games, Paulina will be insistent about game time – her primary objective is to ensure we have the maximum players available for what we hope will be semi- final & final games, which will have meant we will have played five 80 minute games in six days. When it comes to those final two, her advice will not alter, but she is aware that the do or die nature of the games, may mean the odd risk.

In the end, we succeed and Paulina’s management of Rob Pell’s knee means he is on the pitch to score the winner. Her advice to leave out key player Ian Cox, unless necessary, in the semi-final means we get a majestic defensive performance from him in the final. Paulina’s management of the players and the bodies in the heat & humidity was a significant factor in our winning the competition where fine margins did make a difference. She was pro-active within a three person management team, and displayed a variety of additional skill sets during the week.”

Paul

To find out more about pitch side management preparation, and hamstring injury management from Initial injury all the way to return to performance check out chapters 18 and 42 of A Comprehensive Guide to Sports Physiology and Injury Management.