It started World Cup u football! The first time with 48 national teams, but maybe also the first time with this relief. Because there will be 13 games in Mexico to be played in the mountains.
The very first day of the tournament brought a hint that altitude could play a significant role. Mexico defeated South Africa 2:0 in the opening game, while South Korea also had a successful start with a 2:1 victory over the Czech Republic. The Koreans are among the teams that paid the most attention to acclimatization to the conditions in Mexico.
Photo: AP Photo/Eduardo VerdugoMexico players celebrate after the first goal
All matches in Mexico are played at altitudes above 500 meters. The Aztec Stadium in Mexico City is 2.200 meters away. Five games are played there, and Mexico and South Africa played in that stadium last night. Akron Stadium in Guadalajara is at 1.560 meters.
It's not harmless. When the World Cup was played in Mexico in 1986, Graeme Souness, then a football player for Scotland and Sampdoria, was also there. "I remember leaning on my thighs and thinking, 'God, don't I feel good', it was the worst feeling on the pitch. I couldn't breathe."
What does science say?
A study published in the British Medical Journal showed that altitude has an effect on the results of matches.
Analyzing 1.460 international matches played in South America over more than a century, researchers found that teams accustomed to high altitude score more goals and concede fewer goals against low-lying rivals.
Every thousand meters of height difference between the teams increases the advantage of the home team by about half a goal.
Because, up there, the lower air pressure "thins" the air. There is less oxygen in each breath. Those who are not used to it, breathe hard, get tired faster, run slower, and recover longer after the game.
Moreover, although it is invisible to the naked eye, at high altitudes the ball has a higher speed and a different trajectory.
Home ground as a player more
A good example is Ecuador, which in the World Cup qualifiers did not lose a single game on its home ground in Quito at 2.850 meters.
A more drastic example is the stadium in La Paz at 3.600 meters, although Bolivia rarely participated in the finals. It was remembered that in 2009, Bolivia beat Argentina 6:1. Lionel Messi described that visit as one of the most difficult in his career, and on the same field in 2013 he vomited during the game.
Due to the pronounced home advantage, there were attempts by South American national teams to initiate a ban on matches above 1.500 meters. Bolivia previously proposed to be one of the hosts of the 2030 World Cup, but that proposal was not accepted.
The seriousness of the problem was realized by the South Korean football association - they will play all three group stage games in Mexico.
They gathered earlier than the others, on May 18, and chose Salt Lake City as their temporary base, which is in the same time zone as Guadalajara and at an altitude of 1.300 meters. They played two friendly matches there and got used to it.
Who is the right height for?
Who might have the biggest height advantage? First on the list is the host Mexico, which plays the group stage at home. If they take first place in group A, in the round of 16, and potentially in the round of 16, they will play in Mexico City.
South Korea arrived in Mexico acclimatized, trying to match the host. She has already beaten the Czech Republic, while South Africa is waiting for her, which has done its preparations in the lower areas.
Photo: Fonet / APDetail from the match Czech Republic - South Korea
According to the schedule, the national teams of Ecuador and Colombia, which would suit these conditions, will not play key matches in Mexico.
You can read all "Vremena" articles about the World Cup at HERE.
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