One of the country’s leading physiologists has explained how being higher up means lower atmospheric pressure so it is harder to get oxygen into the body.
The body cannot absorb oxygen as efficiently so the heart beats faster to compensate for the lower oxygen supply in the blood. Professor Mike Tipton, of the Extreme Environments Laboratory at Portsmouth University, said the atmospheric pressure in the Azteca will be 23% lower than at standard sea level – resulting in roughly 23% fewer oxygen molecules per breath.
Prof Tipton told the Mirror: “This means heart and breathing rates are increased to try and make up for the lack of oxygen. Despite this, aerobic activity and performance are reduced by about 10% and recovery time and fatigue levels are increased by about 15% as the body relies more on anaerobic, without oxygen, sources of energy which are much more time limited. Complex cognitive performance can also decrease.
View 3 ImagesProfessor Mike Tipton warned over the lack of oxygen in Mexico
Prof Tipton added: “This all requires changes in game strategy and behaviour, including more substitutions and a slower-paced game.” At high altitude the maximum amount of oxygen your body can use drops and sustained efforts feel much harder.
This is because the pressure of oxygen is low in the lungs, affecting the efficiency of transfer between the alveoli in the lungs and the blood where the oxygen is loaded, as well as between the blood and tissue where the oxygen is unloaded.
View 3 ImagesThe iconic stadium is 7,220 feet above sea level(Image: FIFA via Getty Images)
The body can become acclimatised to this difficulty absorbing oxygen over time – which the Mexican team benefit from. England take on the World Cup co-hosts at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City in the early hours of Monday morning. Mexico have won 70 out of 89 competitive matches at the Azteca, losing just two.
Their phenomenal record at home is attributed in part to the altitude being 7,220 feet above sea level. Mexico have already beaten South Africa, South Korea, Czech Republic and Ecuador without conceding a goal in this tournament.
Another side to high altitude is that things move faster through the air. The speed of short sprints could improve due to reduced air resistance – but players will be more exhausted by this.
Prof Tipton added: “The “thinner” atmosphere means the ball travels further and those not used to this may over-hit passes but can shoot from further out. Although players can in theory sprint faster, they need longer to recover between sprints.
“Air temperature falls with altitude so the air temperature will be cooler at altitude. Dehydration remains a potential problem at altitude.
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“In going to play in Mexico, the England team have replaced the physiological stressor of heat with that of altitude – both stressors challenge the physiology of the body and require alterations in strategy and behaviour in order to optimise performance.”