What are the ‘mind-altering’ shoes England players are wearing?

Is it a marketing stunt or a genuine marginal gain?

A strange looking red piece of footwear has been catching the eye in the build-up to England’s final World Cup qualifiers.

The fluorescent red ‘mind-altering’ shoes were worn by Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa at a news conference on Wednesday.

“They told me they can focus better in meetings if they wear these shoes and I hope they believe it,” England boss Thomas Tuchel said when asked about the footwear.

“Maybe the most important thing is that they believe it. I don’t know the science behind it.”

Mechanoreceptors? Sounds complicated…these are sensory cells.

“Its large outsole nodes push against your foot as you step, engaging sensory areas of the brain to help you stay present and connect with your surroundings,” Nike says of the technology in the footwear.

It’s not the first bit of tech the team have used from commercial partners.

At last summer’s Euros, players were given Oura rings to keep tabs on their recovery and sleep, while the medical staff used pickle juice to battle cramp in the players.

Tuchel also said that he will test the new shoes himself around the England training base, adding that he is “always happy to try stuff”.

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