Every soccer match produces moments of disbelief, universally expressed by the flight of both hands to the head, one on each side, often with the head titled backwards. Players, coaches, and spectators all assume this posture whenever an opportunity to score fails – even though the vast majority of opportunities to score fail. Taking one’s head in one’s hands in stunned incredulousness is the default gesture in soccer, a body language cliché that is unique in sports.
