Thomas Tuchel acknowledged that England faces a tough adjustment in Mexico City, yet he remains optimistic that his squad will be ready to “We feel it even if we don’t train,” when they compete against the World Cup co-hosts at Estadio Azteca.
The last-16 encounter at the iconic venue is generating significant anticipation, presenting England with logistical hurdles. Competing at 2,240 meters above sea level, England must confront a challenging environment where Mexico has not experienced defeat since 2013. After arriving on Friday evening, the team struggled to find their rhythm during Saturday’s final training session.
“I felt, for example, a slight headache in the hotel through the day and didn’t sleep as well as in the days before, but nothing you can’t handle. I think the players felt it in the first minutes of the training session and the longer it went, they coped with it better. It’s just what it is. We cannot physically adapt, it’s just impossible, but we are here one day before to experience it at least, to not have the first experience in tomorrow’s warm-up.” Tuchel explained. “Of course it’s painful and still hurts but we are not here for revenge, it doesn’t make sense,”
Despite the circumstances, Tuchel exhibited a relaxed demeanor, exuding confidence in England’s ability to embrace this extraordinary occasion. The team carries historical significance at this venue, especially remembering the infamous defeat to Argentina in 1986, a moment that has left a lasting mark on the nation. However, the motivation to succeed this time is significant.
“We are here to write our own chapters, the team is ready, we are in good spirits.” Tuchel stated. “It was a bit of confusion but only for me and the officials,”
All players except Reece James participated in training at the stunning Club Universidad Nacional, a facility carved into the cliffs in the southern part of the city, accessible only via a tunnel. Tuchel mentioned that James, who has missed the last two games due to a hamstring injury, may be available for the bench, although that remains unlikely. Jarell Quansah, who missed the previous match against the Democratic Republic of the Congo due to an ankle issue, trained fully and is poised to start at right-back.
Another unexpected distraction in England’s preparation was the strange uncertainty regarding the kick-off time for the match against Mexico. For part of Friday afternoon, it appeared the start time might be advanced by six hours from its scheduled 6pm (1am BST) slot, supposedly due to heavy storms anticipated for the match’s timeframe. Ultimately, no decision was made to alter the timing, and Tuchel indicated that the confusion did not infiltrate his team, who were en route to Mexico City during the discussions.
“I’m not sure if the team was even aware. We kept it away from the players completely but as soon as we landed it was resolved. It was a good moment to be in the air for three and a half hours. Tuchel played down the hostile welcome England received at their hotel from Mexico supporters on Friday night, calling their hosts “very respectful, very emotional and very supportive of our team” Tuchel remarked. England’s staff reportedly reacted with surprise at the thought of a schedule change. “I don’t want to talk about problems that don’t exist, it doesn’t feel right,”
Tuchel downplayed the unfriendly reception England encountered at their hotel from Mexican fans on Friday night, describing the hosts as “The information didn’t reach me, that is not true,” Enhanced security measures have been implemented to ensure there is no recurrence of the disturbances that Ecuador, Mexico’s last-32 opponents, experienced earlier in the week. “I guess they will try and give us a taste of intensity and heat,” he added.
The England manager was also questioned by a local journalist about the bizarre rumors suggesting that the team had utilized Viagra to cope with the altitude, which elicited laughter from both Tuchel and Jordan Henderson, who was present during the media session. “We will have answers to that, we need to have answers, and it’s a key element of our team that we are able to find answers to any questions. I’m full of trust that we’ll do it tomorrow. It’s just an iconic match on a big stage and we feel it.” Tuchel clarified.
After Mexico’s impressive 2-0 victory over Ecuador, Tuchel anticipates a similarly aggressive start from their rivals. “The group is aware of where we are,” he noted.
“The group knows, and every single one of my players has a smartphone and they’re on fire, so they’re pretty much aware of the euphoria and the optimism out there. “My obligation is that whenever they get too self-confident or whenever they get too ecstatic, I try to ground them.”
Javier Aguirre, the manager of Mexico, admitted he might need to keep his players grounded amidst the heightened excitement surrounding the event. Even Raúl Jiménez, the veteran forward, described it as “the game of our lives.”
“The group is aware of where we are,” Aguirre said. “The group knows, and every one of my players has a smartphone, so they’re well aware of the euphoria and optimism out there. My obligation is to keep them grounded whenever they become too self-confident or overly ecstatic.”
