2 hours ago Having reached the past 16 of the World Cup by scraping past DR Congo 2-1, 1 of the biggest dangers facing England successful their adjacent lucifer against Mexico is thing they can't power - altitude.
The Three Lions volition beryllium playing astatine the iconic Estadio Azteca successful Mexico City, 7,220ft supra oversea level.
It volition beryllium England's archetypal crippled astatine the stadium since their controversial quarter-final decision by Argentina astatine the 1986 World Cup.
At that altitude, the Earth's barometric unit is lower, making the aerial thinner and meaning little oxygen is taken into the bloodstream with each breath.
Even for nonrecreational footballers, that has a perchance important interaction - accrued bosom rate, shortness of breath, dehydration, quicker and much aggravated fatigue.
By contrast, the stadium astatine the highest altitude successful nonrecreational English shot is West Bromwich Albion's The Hawthorns, which astatine 551ft is 14 times person to oversea level than the Azteca.
Opponents Mexico person played each of their matches truthful acold connected location soil, and the squad is intelligibly utilized to coping with the conditions - they person played 14 games astatine the Azteca truthful acold successful the 2020s, scoring 23 goals and conceding lone four.
Their competitory grounds astatine the Azteca is 70 wins from 89 games, with 17 draws and lone 2 defeats. They are besides unbeaten successful 10 World Cup games there.
"As an opponent, you cognize erstwhile you spell there, you are going to suffer," says Pavel Pardo, a erstwhile Mexico skipper who besides called the Azteca location erstwhile helium played for home broadside Club America.
So, what volition the altitude consciousness similar for players retired connected the pitch, however large a quality could it make, and are determination immoderate strategies to header with it?
English (US)·