Mexico's Aguirre shrugs off World Cup altitude factor

Mexico coach Javier Aguirre played down the Estadio Azteca altitude factor ahead of Sunday's World Cup last-16 clash with England, saying it would come down to "11 v 11".

The co-hosts take on Thomas Tuchel's team in Mexico City, with much of the pre-match talk centred on the tough challenge for the visitors.  

The pitch sits 2,240 metres (7,350 feet) above sea level. At that altitude, air is thinner, meaning each breath delivers less oxygen to the body and the ball travels faster and farther.

Mexico are not among the favourites to win the World Cup but they boast a frightening record at the iconic Azteca, losing just twice in 89 competitive matches there.

Aguirre's men are in top form at the 2026 World Cup, winning all four of their games so far without conceding a single goal.

But the 67-year-old told reporters on Saturday that his team would have to play a "near-perfect match" to beat England, who are fourth in the FIFA rankings.

"They have major players who play both inside and outside the country," he said. "They're pretty powerful, physically speaking, and they're great players."

Aguirre played down any potential advantage that Mexico might have as a result of their experience of playing at altitude.

"I really do not focus on that," he said. "It's 11 against 11. The referee is there to point things out. 

"I really don't think about things like that because we're 11 Mexican players that need to score in their net, and they're going to try to score in ours."

The veteran coach, taking charge of Mexico at a World Cup for the third time over three spells, oversaw a first win for the nation in a World Cup knockout match in 40 years against Ecuador in the last 32.

He said he was aware of the growing excitement in the country ahead of the high-profile last-16 tie with England but his job was to keep his players' feet on the ground.

"The group is aware of where we are," he said. "The group knows, and every single one of my players has a smartphone and they're on fire, so they're pretty much aware of the euphoria and the optimism out there. 

"My obligation is that whenever they get too self-confident or whenever they get too ecstatic, I try to ground them."

Aguirre said he believed his men could reach the quarter-finals, which are all taking place in the United States.

"If I didn't believe that we could indeed beat England, I would tell you, as a matter of fact," he said. 

"But I firmly believe in how (we) play. I believe that we are at par, and the team that makes fewer mistakes is going to win."

bur-jw/gj

© Agence France-Presse