The England team is leaving no stone unturned in their preparation for Euro 2024, opting to wear advanced titanium health rings favored by celebrities worldwide. As the team geared up for their first match against Serbia on Sunday, manager Gareth Southgate and midfielder Conor Gallagher were seen sporting Oura tracking rings, a device that defender John Stones once described as "addictive.

We're beaming with pride when we see these elite athletes choose Oura, that's really cool," said Dorothy Kilroy, the company's chief commercial officer, in an interview with Sky News.

So, what exactly is the Oura ring? This wearable device tracks various health metrics, including sleep patterns, heart rate, stress leve

Health trackers have evolved significantly since their inception in the 1960s, and the latest trend sees elite athletes, including England's football team, sporting advanced wearable devices to enhance their performance. Commercially available trackers like the Oura ring, also favored by celebrities such as Kim Kardashian, Prince Harry, and Gwyneth Paltrow, offer a balance of reliability and convenience. Dave Thomas, who leads "future technology" at the UK Sports Institute, highlights their appeal: " are reliable and there's a low faff factor. Whereas a lot of the stuff, as you increase the level of measurement precision that you want and accuracy and confidence, that builds more hassle around the athlete. Really they just want to concentrate on playing, concentrate on training and concentrate on resting.

This trend towards wearable health technology has been accelerating, particularly with the growing awareness of health importance sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic. Dorothy Kilroy of Oura notes, "We all felt very out of control of our health, right? Things were happening and we were rushing to Google to get answers. So having access to your own data about how your body is doing — I think being able to understand that and being empowered with that data yourself, once you get a taste of that, it's actually really liberating.

While wearables like the Oura ring, priced between £300-£550, are currently popular, the future of health tracking is poised to move beyond these devices. Joao Bocas, a wearables expert, predicts a shift to even more integrated technologies. "In five, 10 years' time, the wearables we're seeing today will become obsolete, the bracelets, the rings, the watches. Technology has advanced so much that we have sensors that will go in our clothes, in our belts, in our glasses, in our shoes. Even, if I can be a bit controversial here, implantable skin sensors where we won't need to wear anything.

For now, England's football team is leveraging the benefits of these advanced wearables in their quest for Euro 2024 glory. Fans are hopeful that the insights gained from these rings will contribute to the team's success and perhaps finally bring home the championship title.

As England's football team gears up for Euro 2024, the integration of advanced health trackers like the Oura ring underscores the evolving landscape of sports technology. These devices, which monitor critical health metrics, offer athletes a significant advantage by providing valuable insights into their physical condition, ultimately aiding in their quest for peak performance. The trend towards wearable health technology, accelerated by the pandemic, reflects a broader societal shift towards proactive health management. While the future promises even more seamless and integrated health monitoring solutions, the current generation of wearables is already making a profound impact. For England, these rings represent not just a nod to cutting-edge technology, but a tangible step towards potentially ending their long wait for a Euro championship.