Thomas Tuchel: One thing will hinder England in Mexico City showdown

By Simon Peach, Press Association Chief Football Writer, Atlanta

Thomas Tuchel believes England’s inability to adapt to the altitude in Mexico gives the co-hosts a “huge advantage” heading into this weekend’s crunch World Cup last-16 clash.

Having topped Group L with victories against Croatia and Panama sandwiching the stalemate with Ghana, it looked like Gareth Southgate’s successor would fall at the first hurdle of the knockouts.

Brian Cipenga’s early strike and an exceptional display from DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi had England facing a round-of-32 exit every bit as humiliating as the Euros loss to Iceland a decade ago.

But Harry Kane, a member of that defeated side, scored twice in a 2-1 turnaround that sets up an unmissable encounter against Mexico, where the challenges include playing more than 2,000 metres above sea level.

“I think the heat and the humidity will not be the problem for us,” boss Tuchel said ahead of the trip to Mexico City. “We are used to that. We are used to that from training times and our prep camp in Florida.

“My understanding is that we cannot adapt to the altitude. That is just a huge advantage that Mexico will have. It just takes too much time.

“We have only three days in between this match. This is physically just not possible to adapt to the altitude, which is quite high.

“We knew that before, so this is just something, it’s just a disadvantage, with which we will have to deal, and I think we showed the attitude that we are ready for that, and from there we go.”

Tuchel warned a “a lot, a lot, a lot of obstacles” await England in Mexico City, but says travelling to take on El Tri is “one of the most beautiful fixtures” you can have.

Ecuador crumbled at the Azteca on Tuesday evening as the hosts roared out of the blocks to win 2-0 after an hour’s delay, which prevented Tuchel from making an early start to England’s scouting process.

“I was happy to watch the first half and then it was not on due to the delay and I slept at 10 o’clock (when it kicked off),” the England boss said with a smile.

“It’s very unusual for me, but I have somehow a crazy early bedtime during this World Cup, and I didn’t see it until now.

“I saw the result, of course and I saw that I didn’t concede, and yeah, it will be a tough one but at the same time it will be a beautiful one, and very exciting.”

England will fly to Mexico City on Friday having trained in Kansas City, where they returned straight after the DR Congo tie in Atlanta.

There is plenty for Tuchel to ponder before the last-16 tie, while Reece James and Jarell Quansah will push to return from the injuries that ruled them out of the round of 32.

“Let’s see how much this cost us,” Tuchel said. “We didn’t play overtime, which is a good thing.

“We have an early trip home, we have a brilliant facility now. The most important thing is that we recover because we will travel early, I guess, to get the travelling out of the way.

“But this helps, you know, like we have now this experience together, and the players are used to that rhythm, they love this rhythm and let’s see.”