10 Comments
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James Marshall's avatar

I would have had them sleeping in altitude tents for the last 10 days, once I saw the pathway through the playoffs. Also, you didn't mention the Mexican fans who like to harrass opposition teams outside of their hotels.

Eric Francis's avatar

I don’t know they even had enough prep time for this. This very much could have hurt the group stage games.

Dan's avatar

Just had the height put into perspective, the Burj Khalifa is 2,700 ft tall.. I had absolutely no idea quite how high up 7,000 ft is!

Also, in the 60 years that Mexico have played there they have lost only 2 games. Astonishing. Must be the biggest home field advantage of any description.

Karl Rysted's avatar

Great timing for me to read this article. We're camping and hiking only 1 1/2 hrs. from home but over twice the elevation, 8600 ft. My Coros watch confirms what I'm feeling, that I'm struggling. Not as much as when I come up here to Cloudcroft for trail races!

Lester Hitch's avatar

Fifa rules state that teams must train at a base near the match day stadium a least 2 days before the match so that takes away the option of flying in just before the game. I don't know why they have this rule in place, it is also only in place from the last 16 round.

Jodi Hawley's avatar

What are your thoughts on England reportedly using blood flow restriction training? Any mechanisms there that could mitigate performance losses upon acute altitude exposure?

Steve Magness's avatar

Keep the errors so you see it's me, not AI.

Life Begins at 58's avatar

Don’t think England have many good options here.

I’ve read, in English media, that arriving 3-5 days before the game would worsen the impact , with no gains in acclimatisation.

2 days before is the least bad option ?

Steve Magness's avatar

Arriving 4 days out would be better than 2 days out. If I were them, their best option.