Aguirre Dismisses Altitude Edge Before Mexico-England Clash
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- Javier Aguirre brushed off any altitude edge at the 7,220-foot Azteca Stadium, saying 'it's 11 vs. 11' — even though Mexico has lost just two men's matches there in history
- On Friday, 48 hours before kickoff, a proposed time shift from 6 p.m. to noon over thunderstorm forecasts drew Aguirre's public displeasure; he called it a 'kick in the gut' and said he 'didn't like it at all'
- YouTuber Stephen Deleonardis sent Mexico's players Rolex watches after betting on their win over Ecuador; the Mexican FA said the gifts were returned 'by mutual agreement'
- Aguirre has been studying Premier League clips and throw-in tactics, calling England under Tuchel a 'top team' that has evolved Southgate's stylistic foundation while adding 'his own nuances and ideas'
- Harry Kane enters Sunday with five tournament goals; Aguirre called him 'a top, top player in the world' and said Mexico's defensive midfielders must keep him 'uncomfortable so he can't build any pace'
Why it matters: Aguirre publicly dismissed two pre-match distractions — a kickoff time change and the returned Rolex gifts — projecting calm ahead of a match where Kane (five goals) presents Mexico's toughest neutralization task. Aguirre acknowledged his team needs a 'near-perfect match' to beat a Tuchel-led England that has built on Southgate's tactical evolution, framing the Azteca altitude and home crowd as irrelevant to the tactical equation.
