Is a BREATHING GURU the secret to England’s new-found penalty success? Three Lions have hired a ‘breath coach’ for the Euros – and Declan Rice is telling stars to ‘manifest’ his methods

The secret to England’s flawless penalty shootout success at Euro 2024 could be the hiring of a breathing guru to help players maintain their composure, it has been revealed.

The Three Lions held their nerve and scored five perfect penalties to beat Switzerland in Düsseldorf, setting them up for a semi-final against the Netherlands on Wednesday, taking them one step closer to their first men’s trophy since 1966.

The national team’s history is peppered with sorrow from the 11-yard box, with even current manager Gareth Southgate having a penalty saved at Euro 1996. But a renewed effort to change the mentality in recent years has paid off.

Southgate is said to have worked tirelessly to improve the psyche of his players for the shootouts, first hiring a team of analysts led by a sports psychologist and now also recruiting breathing expert Stuart Sandeman.

The ultimate goal of the work is to help players gain control over stressful situations surrounding penalty kicks and to ensure that they no longer fear penalties. Therefore, the team has been instructed to take deep breaths to regain calm and control before taking a shot.

Stuart Sandeman, a respiratory expert, was brought in to help lead a recovery session

Players lay on the floor and underwent a series of breathing exercises

Several players, including Bukayo Saka, visibly inhaled and exhaled with purpose during the penalty shootout against the Swiss, which England won 5-3.

Expert Geir Jordet thinks the work was remarkable.

“Some people are told to breathe very consciously, focusing on deep, diaphragmatic breaths. We know that triggers a flood of building hormones and neurobiological processes in your brain and body,” he told AP.

Three Lions players were photographed during a relaxation session organised by Sandeman following their convincing extra-time win over Slovakia in the round of 16.

Sandeman, a BBC Radio 1 DJ and bestselling author, has been working in the field for over eight years and first discovered the benefits of breathwork after his girlfriend tragically passed away from cancer in 2016. He later took his mother to a class.

The 41-year-old performance coach is also the founder of Breathpod.

His technique has been described as ‘distinctive…designed to disrupt negative thought patterns, release tension and increase flow.’

Bukayo Saka and Trent Alexander-Arnold took a deep breath before scoring their penalties

Sandeman, also a DJ and bestselling author, discovered breathwork after the death of his girlfriend

Breathing techniques are said to aid athletes’ recovery and enhance their fight or flight instincts.

Declan Rice told his teammates to adopt Sandeman’s methods to keep their composure

Breathing exercises can promote recovery and help athletes develop their fight or flight instincts.

“The autonomic nervous system is split into two halves… the way we breathe really affects that,” Sandeman told Misner.

‘Breathing not only brings life to our bodies, it also activates our state of being.

“It affects how we feel, how we think, how our system works.”

Luke Shaw said after the win over Switzerland that Declan Rice had reminded his teammates of the breathing techniques they had been taught.

“Declan was our speaker, he calmed everyone down and told them to use their breathing techniques and manifest,” Shaw said. “It was needed.”