{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "FAQPage",
  "@id": "https://scienceinsport.com/blogs/nutrition/how-to-fuel-like-a-footballer#faq",
  "mainEntity": [
    {
      "@type": "Question",
      "name": "How should footballers fuel for a match?",
      "acceptedAnswer": {
        "@type": "Answer",
        "text": "Fill your glycogen stores in the day before and on match day, eat a carbohydrate-rich meal around three hours before kick-off, top up carbohydrate and fluid at half-time, and recover with carbohydrate and protein afterwards. This supports repeated sprints across 90 minutes."
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Question",
      "name": "Why does carbohydrate matter in football?",
      "acceptedAnswer": {
        "@type": "Answer",
        "text": "The repeated high-intensity sprints that define football draw heavily on carbohydrate. As glycogen declines through a match, players cover less high-intensity distance and sprint less well, which is why full stores before and top-ups during the game support late-game sharpness."
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Question",
      "name": "What should footballers do at half-time?",
      "acceptedAnswer": {
        "@type": "Answer",
        "text": "Half-time is the key in-match fuelling window. Take on easily digestible carbohydrate like a drink or gel to maintain second-half performance, combined with fluid and electrolytes to address both energy and hydration in one go."
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Question",
      "name": "How do footballers recover between matches?",
      "acceptedAnswer": {
        "@type": "Answer",
        "text": "With matches often close together, recovery nutrition matters. Taking around 20 to 30 grams of protein with carbohydrate after a match refills glycogen and supports muscle repair, helping players recover for training and the next fixture in a congested schedule."
      }
    }
  ]
}