Michael Owen talks about the biggest challenge England will face playing in Mexico’s high altitude—something fans might not even realize.
Before England’s big round of 16 game against Mexico, Michael Owen has shared a small but important point about playing at high altitude—something fans might not really notice or understand.
Earlier this week, England’s coach Thomas Tuchel said it would be “impossible” to get used to the high altitude at Mexico’s Azteca Stadium in just a few days.
“If you play against Mexico at the Azteca, there will be lots of challenges waiting for us,” he said. “The altitude will be a big problem because we just can’t adjust to it physically in four days. That’s impossible. And there might be even more issues.”
The famous Azteca Stadium sits more than 7,000 feet above sea level, which is about one and a half times higher than the UK’s tallest mountain, Ben Nevis.
So, how does playing at high altitude affect players? Because there’s less oxygen, the body has to work harder, with the heart and lungs working faster, which can make players tire more quickly and recover slower.
This tiredness could have a big effect on Sunday’s game. But the thinner air also changes how the ball moves, as Michael Owen pointed out.
In his column for the Mail, Owen explained the little details that make a big difference.
“Sometimes people laugh when players talk about tiny parts of football, but those parts matter a lot,” he said. “For example, if David Beckham crossed the ball to me with his right foot, I wouldn’t aim my header exactly at the goal corner. I’d aim a bit outside because I already knew how the ball would spin when it hit my head.
“If I aimed straight at the corner, I’d likely miss because the ball would move inside and the keeper could save it.
“This also happens when controlling the ball. Players don’t like the strips of grass on a freshly cut pitch, like at the Azteca, because the ball can roll differently across the different grass patterns. This can make a first touch tricky.
“But the bigger problem is the effect of the altitude on the ball’s flight, which scientists say can change by a small but important percent. That difference can be the one that causes a defender to mistime a header, just hitting the ball on the top of their head and giving the other team a chance.
“Just a tiny mistake in timing your jump or hit can cause this,” Owen added. “Fans might not see or appreciate this, but players will feel it straight away.”
Besides how the altitude affects their bodies, Owen says he is “just as worried” about how the ball will move during the game. Players will need to think and position themselves differently.
“Golfers often say their shots go farther at high altitude because the air is thinner,” Owen added. “England will notice this at the Azteca—the ball will move differently, flying faster or farther. The scary part is that for most England players, this will be their first time dealing with this in a real game.”