The benefits of watching the matches of the Peruvian national team, according to psychologist

There is little left for Peru vs. Paraguay for the last date of the South American qualifiers for the Qatar 2022 World Cup. The Peruvian team depends on itself to secure the repechage and hope who will be its rival on behalf of the Asian continent. In that sense, what sustains the Bicolor is the fans, the number 12 that always encourages victories and defeats. How can this give benefits to our emotions?

Watching the Peruvian team's matches can be regarded as suffering or anxiety due to the excitement of football in Peru (and South America). However, in dialogue with Agencia Andina, psychologist Iván Montes-Iturrizaga, professor at the Graduate School of the Continental University, pointed out that these events contribute not only to generating emotions or fraternal expressions.

This is even more so when parties are lived with families, friends and society in general. That is why it also allows good activities for health, as detailed below in five important points.

1. SEE THE SELECTION INTEGRATES, UNITES.

“Football unites what disunites politics”, is the summary of a saying that has been repeatedly mentioned when there is a crisis in Peru on the verge of a decisive match. That is why football at the national team level integrates, unites and overwhelms us with very healthy emotions regardless of the results.

Given this, it is likely that these moments could well be used to contribute something to national integrity, inclusion and respectful understanding among Peruvians.

2. THE HUG BETWEEN RIVALS

The confrontations between fans of the local tournament are blurred to the point of embracing each other in the grandstands — even wearing the shirts of their teams —, restaurants and in the streets.

3. UNFORGETTABLE MEETINGS WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS

Already on a more micro level, the specialist points out that these demonstrations translate into meetings between friends and family around a television set for many hours before each meeting. He exemplified it with food, since it is one of the most Peruvian ways of showing affection.

It doesn't matter if it's a pizza, or a grilled chicken, an egg rice or the classic tuna sandwiches. The psychologist adds that we Peruvians always tend to value these moments as unforgettable encounters that often leave anecdotes and memories vertebrated by the good time lived, even if it is temporary.

However, Montes recalls that care should be taken with the consumption of alcoholic beverages in excess and caution should be exercised with so-called “peperas”, which appear in such events of national euphoria.

4. IMPROVES BLOOD PRESSURE AND REDUCES STRESS

The health benefits associated with watching football cannot be ignored. For example, watching this sport (and many others) helps blood pressure (especially after the game), cardiovascular capacity benefits, stress is reduced and we experience a series of improvements in the perception of our state of well-being.

5. WATCHING FOOTBALL IS LIKE WALKING

Finally, the specialist points out that according to English researcher Andrea Utley (University of Leeds), watching football is equivalent to 90 minutes of brisk walking and lifts the mood for more than 24 hours, especially when victory is the final result.

In short, this so-called “good stress” that is triggered when we watch football together with the company of family and/or good friends, does nothing but benefit us all immensely.

(With information from Andean Agency)

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