Harry Kane has given his first verdict on the much-talked-about altitude at Mexico’s Estadio Azteca. The famous stadium in Mexico City sits 2,200 metres above sea level. At that altitude, the Earth’s barometric pressure is lower, meaning the air is thinner. That means less oxygen is taken into the bloodstream with each breath. England manager Thomas Tuchel believes dealing with the altitude will be very difficult, calling it a “huge disadvantage” for his players, who arrived in Mexico around 48 hours before kick-off. All four
of Mexico’s previous matches at the tournament have been on home soil and they have been training here too. It means they have acclimatised already and head into the game with an advantage. Speaking to BBC Sport ahead of the game, England captain Harry Kane played down the adverse effects. Asked if he has felt the impacts of the altitude, Kane said: “So far so good. Haven’t really felt it. “Slept well both nights and trained well yesterday. The whole team looked sharp. “We’ll have
to see as the game progresses whether it has an impact. We just have to deal with it, there’s nothing we can do about it. “It’s not an excuse. We back ourselves against a good side and we have to go out there and do that.”
Harry Kane, Thomas Tuchel, England, Mexico City, Estadio Azteca, altitude, World Cup, barometric pressure, acclimatised
Azteca altitude is no big deal. Everybody in soccer acts like oxygen is optional.
So Mexico’s been training there and England just got there 48 hours before? That seems kinda unfair, but Kane saying “so far so good” doesn’t mean anything if they gas out later. I swear these guys always say the right stuff right before they start struggling.
I saw somewhere that thin air makes the ball heavier tho? Like the altitude changes everything, right? If Mexico is used to it, England might be slow but Tuchel talks like it’s gonna be some giant medical problem. Also 2,200 meters sounds like a lot but I’m not sure how that compares to… Denver lol.
Kane “slept well” so he’s not feeling it… ok but adrenaline is a thing. If England loses, they’ll totally call it the altitude anyway, watch. And doesn’t barometric pressure affect weather too? Like maybe Mexico has an advantage because the sky is different or something, not just oxygen. Either way, I don’t buy it—World Cup hype makes everyone talk circles.