Thomas Tuchel says England have been treated with respect in Mexico City despite security concerns around the team hotel, as his side prepare to face co-hosts Mexico in a last-16 tie at the world-famous Estadio Azteca.
Thomas Tuchel has brushed aside concerns over England’s reception in Mexico ahead of Sunday’s World Cup last-16 clash with co-hosts Mexico, insisting the experience has been “nicer than I expected” and that home supporters have been “friendly and respectful”. The match kicks off at 18:00 local time on Sunday, which is 01:00 BST on Monday, and will be shown live on BBC One, iPlayer and Radio 5 Live. England reached the knockout rounds with a perfect record, winning all three of their group matches and conceding very few chances, while Mexico head into the tie unbeaten at the tournament and aiming to reach the quarter-finals on home soil.
Security Tightened After Noise Complaint
England’s players were met with a mixture of cheers and jeers as they left their hotel for training on Saturday, under enhanced security measures in Mexico City. The heightened presence followed a formal noise complaint lodged with Fifa by Ecuador, who were beaten 2-0 by Mexico in the last 32, after fans using loudspeakers, motorbikes and horns disrupted their sleep the previous week. In response, members of Mexico’s National Guard lined the entrance to England’s hotel, while police officers in riot gear stood alongside barriers on the road outside.
Tuchel said the precautions had proved effective. “We had no issues tonight and I think Fifa took care of the situation,” he said. “We have security around the hotel so we expect a good night’s sleep. I don’t want to talk about problems that don’t exist yet. If they come, we will accept them. The best way to approach is to be relaxed and calm. We have a six o’clock kick-off, so if we miss some hours of sleep we will have time to get some other hours in the late morning.”
‘It Was Even Nicer Than I Expected’
Despite the security operation, Tuchel insisted his side’s overall experience in Mexico had been a positive one. “What I experienced until now was very respectful and emotional and very supportive towards our teams so are very respectful towards everyone. We expect to be treated with respect and that was the case. It was even nicer than I expected,” he said. He added that the atmosphere in Mexico City had struck him from the moment his squad arrived. “It just catches you straight away once you land here and saw the excitement and the emotions,” he said. “This will be a proper World Cup match. We are in an iconic place, an iconic stadium and a massive knockout game. It is a big stage and we feel it. It makes you sharper and brings the best out of you. It makes you feel alive.”
The Altitude Challenge at Estadio Azteca
Much of the build-up has also centred on the effects of altitude at the Estadio Azteca, which sits 7,220ft (2,240m) above sea level. At that height, the Earth’s barometric pressure is lower and the air thinner, meaning less oxygen reaches the bloodstream with each breath — a combination that can bring increased heart rate, shortness of breath, dehydration and quicker, more intense fatigue.
Tuchel said he had already felt the effects since arriving on Saturday evening. “We feel it even if we don’t train,” he said. “I felt a slight headache through the day, for example. I didn’t sleep as well as the days before but nothing you cannot handle and that you cannot adapt. The players felt it in the first minutes of the training session and the longer it went they could cope with it better.” He suggested the conditions helped explain Mexico’s approach to matches at the venue: “It is not a coincidence Mexico starts their matches strong and aggressively as the first 15 to 20 minutes maybe the tougher. Once we overcome that, I think we are in a good place. The players are kind of adapted — you know about the situation. We will take care of what we need to take care of. We need a strong performance and I feel we will have one.” To help players cope, England’s performance staff have introduced enhanced hydration, recovery and monitoring protocols since arriving in Mexico City, with medical staff closely tracking players before and after training.
Kick-Off Time Confusion
Tuchel was also asked about confusion earlier in the week, when Fifa had considered moving the match forward six hours to 12:00 local time (19:00 BST) before reversing the decision and confirming the original 18:00 kick-off after reviewing conditions. “Inside the bubble it was quite calm,” Tuchel said. “The players were not aware there was a possible change of kick-off. Just this example shows you to not lose your head — we cannot influence it. Three and a half hours later, you land in Mexico and the kick-off time stayed the same. It is not worth losing your head.”
A Historic Stage
The match carries added significance for the venue itself, with the Estadio Azteca becoming the first stadium in history to host matches at three separate men’s World Cups, having previously staged games in 1970 and 1986. Tens of thousands of supporters have arrived in Mexico City for what is one of the highest-profile knockout matches of the tournament so far, with a significant police and National Guard presence maintained around both the stadium and the team hotels.
Summing up his side’s mindset, Tuchel said: “Altitude: it is what it is. Home crowd: it is what it is. We have the spirit, we have the commitment, we have the pure will and the glue in the team to overcome these things. We know what is coming. But that is the beauty of it.” Victory would take either side a step closer to the semi-finals, with the winner advancing to face the victor of the corresponding last-16 tie in the quarter-finals — for Mexico, a run that would mark one of the country’s best World Cup performances in recent decades.
