Reason England players have cut holes in socks as Euros viewers point out bizarre trend

We've won our first game, everyone relax and enjoy it before we've got to do it all again.

Bellingham's stunning first-half header was enough to see off Serbia in our opening Euro 2024 tie, coming out with a 1-0 scoreline and a clean sheet.

Lovely stuff.

However, some viewers at home seemed more interested with what the players were wearing.

Football fans watching the game couldn't help but notice that players have cut holes in their socks, calling it a bizarre trend.

However, there is a good reason behind it - and no it isn't just for fashion.

"Millions of mums across England tomorrow: 'I don't care if Jude Bellingham does it, you are NOT cutting holes in a perfectly good pair of socks'," one viewer said.

"The England players should not do that sock thing with the holes in when playing for their country #EURO2024," another added.

"Cut out socks and low rise socks… what has football come to? #England," a third penned.

It actually turns out that tight-fitting football socks can cause issues for players, as it applies heavy pressure to the muscles.

Conor Gallagher’s socks looking like he’s in a stage production of Oliver. pic.twitter.com/hrIavLXKjg

— Conor Wilson (@ConorWilson) June 16, 2024

So when players are running at full stretch, it can actually restrict movement.

This can cause circulation issues and lead to longer term problems.

That's why players cut their socks to improve breathability, increase their range of movement and avoid circulation problems.

Kyle Walker told SPORTbible in 2021: "The socks were actually too tight so it was causing pressure on my calves. [It was] just to release my calves - or release the tension.

"I just cut holes in them and all of a sudden I had a few alright games, and I was like, 'Ok, I'm keeping this now!'"

Now, during BBC's pre-kick off coverage of the game, some viewers were slightly dumfounded by Joe Hart and it wasn't for his analysis.

Football fans were paying close attention to the 37-year-old's arm tattoos, which some say resembled 'gaffer tape'.

Taking to social media, one viewer wrote: "Do you reckon Joe Hart has any tattoos that he regrets?"

"What the hell has Joe Hart done. Please tell me that these are not tattoos omg," a second added.

"Love the creativity with Joe Hart’s tattoos," a third penned.

Well, there is an explanation behind the ink work, as Hart shared a series of images of the armour tattoos on Insta back in 2019.

Thanking his tattoo artist Hanu Mantra, he said: "You are the man @hanumantra thank you, this is the only time of year I could take this on so I appreciate you fitting me in and smashing it!!

"I got my armour on now... let's see what's next.

"Not everyone's taste I understand that but this definitely represents me and thank you for making it happen."