'You can't catch your breath' - how will Azteca altitude impact England?

A significant story is unfolding on the international scene. 'You can't catch your breath' - how will Azteca altitude impact England? Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Mexico have only lost twice in competitive matches at the Estadio Azteca - against Costa Rica in 2001 and Honduras in 2013 - since they began playing matches there in 1966ByDaniel AustinBBC Sport senior journalistPublished23 minutes agoHaving reached the last 16 of the World Cup by scraping past DR Congo 2-1, one of the biggest dangers facing England in their next match against Mexico is something they can't control - altitude. The Three Lions will be playing at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, 7,220ft above sea level.

It will be England's first game at the stadium since their controversial quarter-final defeat by Argentina at the 1986 World Cup. At that altitude, the Earth's barometric pressure is lower, making the air thinner and meaning less oxygen is taken into the bloodstream with each breath. Even for professional footballers, that has a potentially significant impact - increased heart rate, shortness of breath, dehydration, quicker and more intense fatigue.

The Details

By contrast, the stadium at the highest altitude in professional English football is West Bromwich Albion's The Hawthorns, which at 551ft is 14 times closer to sea level than the Azteca. Opponents Mexico have played all of their matches so far on home soil, and the squad is clearly used to coping with the conditions - they have played 14 games at the Azteca so far in the 2020s, scoring 23 goals and conceding only four. Their competitive record at the Azteca is 70 wins from 89 games, with 17 draws and only two defeats.

They are also unbeaten in 10 World Cup games there. "As an opponent, you know when you go there, you are going to suffer," says Pavel Pardo, a former Mexico captain who also called the Azteca home when he played for domestic side Club America. So, what will the altitude feel like for players out on the pitch, how big a difference could it make, and are there any strategies to cope with it?

Tuchel urges parents to let kids stay up for England game Published10 hours agoGenuine superstar Kane produces his biggest England moment Published12 hours agoWhy did England struggle against DR Congo - and what can they learn? Published8 hours ago'The most demanding place I ever played football'Not many English players have played at the Azteca since 1986, but even with advances in sports science and smarter preparation, those who have insist the impact is significant. "It's the most physically demanding place I ever played football," says Nigel Reo-Coker, the former West Ham midfielder who played in the Concacaf Champions League final at the Azteca for Montreal Impact in 2015.

What Experts Say

"To come from Europe and play in that altitude is so difficult. "You cannot catch your breath. The first 45 to 55 minutes you're literally just trying to keep breathing.

"It's about football intelligence – you really have to pick and choose your moments where you exert yourself.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.