"In northern Europe, in general, we tend to value discipline and sticking to your task highly, " said Kuper.

CNN: June 29, 2012 -- Updated 1447 GMT (2247 HKT)

Kuper and Szymanski claim the tournament actually makes people happier by creating a collective event that helps us value relationships with family, friends and the world.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Winner's view is shared by Simon Kuper, journalist and co-author of "Soccernomics, " a book about football's truths, who subscribes to the view that England's methodology was spawned from a notion that the soldier was society's greatest role model.

CNN: June 29, 2012 -- Updated 1447 GMT (2247 HKT)