FIFA World Cup: Every team that banned sex, has been knocked out

Other sides happy to let their players spend intimate time with loved ones include the United States, Switzerland, Uruguay and Nigeria - all of whom made it into the last 16.

Of the sides that banned sex - Spain, Russia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Chile and Mexico - none made it past the last 16.

Bosnia striker Edin Dzeko's failure to light up the World Cup could be attributed to time spent apart from his girlfriend Amra Silajdzic.

Some managers have shown more of an interest than others. Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari hasn't banned it, but will monitor it. He said: 'The players can have normal sex during the World Cup. Usually normal sex is done in balanced way, but there are certain forms, certain ways and others who do acrobatics. We will put limits and survey the players.'