England national team coach Roy Hodgson is taking concrete steps to support his players’ mental preparation for the upcoming World Cup in Brazil. Hodgson has confirmed the appointment of a psychologist to assist the team, a move he had previously mentioned as part of his strategy to boost their performance.
“We wanted to ensure we had the right person for the job, someone who understands the football environment and can truly connect with the players,” Hodgson stated. Originally intended to address issues such as penalty shootouts, which have historically been challenging for England, the involvement of a sports psychologist is now being considered for the entire tournament.
The chosen psychologist is Steve Peters, who is already familiar with the team as the personal psychologist of captain Steven Gerrard. Gerrard has expressed his support for Peters, emphasizing the valuable role he plays in helping athletes understand their mental processes and enhance their preparation.
Hodgson emphasizes the importance of integrating the psychologist into the team dynamic rather than simply having them provide individual sessions. This approach aims to ensure that the psychologist’s insights are effectively incorporated into the team’s overall strategy and preparation.
