Spain orders special mattress toppers for World Cup

Members of the Spain men's national team aren't taking chances at the Qatar World Cup regarding their sleep. 

ESPN's Alex Kirkland and Rodrigo Faez reported Friday that at least six Spanish footballers will use special mattress toppers designed by bed manufacturers Hogo during their stay at Qatar University during the World Cup. 

"We have a lot of clients in football, and they asked if we could offer them something for when they travel, to maintain their quality of sleep," Hogo's Marino Cid told ESPN. "We undertook scientific studies -- we've had one published -- and for this World Cup we've developed the first prototype. It isn't on sale yet. We've only sent them to our clients at the World Cup."

ESPN says a Hogo luxury bed can cost up to $40,000. 

Cid insisted the "Hogo Mat" has positively impacted multiple noteworthy international players such as Atletico Madrid's Koke, who is representing Spain in Qatar.

"Some of these players are in pain for a few minutes when they get up in the morning, with their ankles or their knees," Cid explained. "When they sleep with our 'rest system' that pain disappears ... Koke told me he used to wake up in the morning with terrible pains in his legs, and now he doesn't."

It's understandable Spain is looking for any advantage, as James Brownsell of Al Jazeera recently pointed out the nation entering the World Cup seventh in the FIFA rankings is in a group with an average world ranking of 18.25. Germany is 11th, Japan is 24th, and Costa Rica is No. 31. 

Spain will first face Costa Rica in the World Cup on Wednesday.