HO / Reuters

Argentina's World Cup team poses for a photograph on Wednesday.

updated 4:59 p.m. ET May 27, 2010

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina - Soccer and sex are just fine for the World Cup.

That's the word from Argentina's team doctor who says players can have sex with their regular partners during the monthlong tournament in South Africa.

Dr. Donato Vallani said sex was a part of life.

"The players can have sex with their wives and girlfriends during the World Cup," he said on Radio Del Plata. "Players are not Martians."

"But," he added, "it should not be at 2 a.m. with champagne and Havana cigars."

Vallani didn't give any other specific instructions except to say that players keep a regular sleep schedule. He also said the players could eat Argentina's specialty — barbecued beef — with a glass of wine. But excess drinking was, of course, prohibited.

It's been an interesting few days for Argentina. On Tuesday, coach Diego Maradona made a promise during a radio show that he'll run through the center of Buenos Aires naked if the team wins the World Cup.

"If we win the World Cup, I'll get naked and run around the Obelisk," he said, referring to the tall monument that marks the center of the city and serves as its most famous landmark.

Argentina travels to South Africa on Friday and plays Nigeria on June 12 in its World Cup opener. Also in Group B are South Korea and Greece.

The World Cup begins on June 11.

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