Thomas Tuchel says England will be at a \u201chuge\u201d disadvantage in the high altitude of Mexico City on Sunday when they face Mexico in the last 16 of the World Cup as he lamented a Fifa rule that has shut down one possible acclimatisation plan.<\/p>\n
The Football Association has looked into how the altitude will affect the England<\/a> players and spoken to teams from other sports as part of its research. They included the British Olympic team. One of the findings is that if it is not possible to travel to the venue 10 days beforehand to get used to the conditions, then it would be preferable to go on the day of the game \u2013 arriving as close to kick-off as possible.<\/p>\n But Fifa has decreed that from the last 16 onwards, teams must train in \u201cvenue-specific sites\u201d close to the stadiums the day before matches. It has meant that England will have to fly to Mexico City from their base in Kansas City on Friday afternoon. They returned to Kansas City on Wednesday from Atlanta after their 2-1 win over the Democratic Republic of the Congo <\/a>(DRC) in the last 32.<\/p>\n Mexico have played three of their four tournament matches at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico<\/a> City, which is about 2,240 metres above sea level. They are used to the altitude, which can affect athletic performance, whereas Tuchel accepts it will be new for his players.<\/p>\n \u201cThe recommendation is you either go 10 days before \u2013 which is too long for us \u2013 or last minute, which is not allowed [by Fifa],\u201d the head coach said. \u201cWe have spoken to teams who do it and they say they travel very, very late on matchday if they cannot have time to adapt. [We must] find a mixture in between. It will stay as a disadvantage.\u201d<\/p>\n Tuchel was asked whether it was unfair. \u201cYes, it\u2019s a huge advantage [for Mexico],\u201d he replied. Tuchel did see one positive from having an extra day in Mexico City; England have travelled to their previous World Cup<\/a> matches the day beforehand. \u201cThe ball will fly differently [at altitude],\u201d he said. \u201cIt will fly maybe five yards more. It\u2019s just difficult. We just need the experience.\u201d<\/p>\n Tuchel offered an insight into how his key midfielder, Declan Rice, was battling through matches. Rice has managed nerve pain in a hamstring since Christmas and felt it in England\u2019s opening World Cup game against Croatia<\/a>, when he was withdrawn in the 72nd minute. He missed game three against Panama<\/a> with an unrelated calf knock but felt the nerve issue again against the DRC, with Tuchel substituting him in the 89th minute.<\/p>\n Declan Rice has been managing an injury. Photograph: DeFodi Images\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n Rice has insisted he will be OK for the Mexico game. Jarell Quansah, who went off with an ankle problem against Panama and was unavailable against the DRC, is understood to be winning his fitness battle for Mexico.<\/p>\n \u201cI asked Declan how he was,\u201d Tuchel said. \u201cHe said: \u2018I can do it for the team but I am in terrible pain.\u2019 And when Declan tells you he is in terrible pain then you know he cannot take it any more. He was grateful we took him off but he said after the game it\u2019s not an issue. There is no injury. I think he will recover. He was just in pain and I hope he is right. It\u2019s more neural pain. Can he go from game to game? He can, yes.\u201d<\/p>\n