England national team head coach Thomas Tuchel has acknowledged that his side will face a disadvantage in their Round of 16 clash against Mexico. The match is set to take place in the high-altitude region of Mexico City, meaning the English squad will need to acclimatize before kickoff.
“It’s recommended to arrive either 10 days before the match—which is too long for us—or at the last moment, which FIFA prohibits,” Tuchel explained. “We’ve spoken with teams that do this, and they say they travel very late on match day if they don’t have time to adapt. We need to find a middle ground.”
When asked if this situation is unfair, Tuchel responded, “Yes, it’s a huge advantage for Mexico. The ball will behave differently at altitude. It might travel about five yards further. It will be tough for us, but we have to get used to it.”
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