Tuchel: Altitude a 'big disadvantage' for England vs Mexico
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- Tuchel urged parents to let children stay up past bedtime for England's 01:00 BST Monday knockout match against Mexico, telling them: "Write an excuse for school and let them watch. The World Cup is every four years."
- Tuchel said the Azteca Stadium's ~7,200ft altitude is "a big disadvantage" because England cannot physically adapt in the three days between matches, when proper acclimatization takes one to two weeks
- Harry Kane's double against DR Congo on Wednesday booked England's trip to Mexico City, where England will arrive only two days before kickoff, per Tuchel
- Mexico have played all four of their World Cup games at high altitude — three at the Azteca and one in Guadalajara (~5,000ft) — leaving their players accustomed to thinner air, per Tuchel
- Tuchel dismissed the narrative that the weight of expectation weighing on England hurt their performance against DR Congo, saying: "I did not see any of that."
Why it matters: Mexico have had four matches to acclimatize while England get 48 hours, and Tuchel conceded this is "a huge advantage" for the hosts — meaning England must win a knockout tie while surrendering the physical element. The 01:00 BST Monday start time, before schools break for summer, directly complicates Tuchel's call for maximum crowd support from England's next generation of fans.
