World Cup 2026

[Pblakeney]

Just gone out. I am not a fan, but, with a choice of Wimbleton, or some Quiz Show, or Football, I chose football. It is rather amusing to watch football, with Mrs Boldonlad, she is not a fan (a legacy of having 6 football mad brothers, and a football mad father), but, she cannot help herself getting "into it" and ends shouting at TV.

I felt rather sorry for Ivory Coast, I thought they put up a good fight.

My wife is the same. Doesn’t watch football because it brings out the worst in her. Working on a shop floor in the 70s would have been shocked by the language! 🤣

 

[Beebo]

 

[bobzmyunkle]

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Weak satire because we all know it's true. When they went 1-0 down against DRC was I the only one thinking, at least we can end the torture early?

 

[Dorset Boy]

The Azteca is at 2,240 m
That's going to be a tough ask, and I doubt the management know which players might struggle more than others at that height.

No wonder Mexico have such a great record there.

However, it would be nice to avenge England's 1986 defeat there to the cheating coke snorting Argie.

 

[matticus]

Weak satire because we all know it's true. When they went 1-0 down against DRC was I the only one thinking, at least we can end the torture early?

Well ... I just want us to go as far as possible. There is room for an expectation between:
"we're rubbish and just to win a group game would be great" and
"we're very likely to win the World Cup."

There are 4* teams who - a month ago - were predicted to do better than England. Fans of 3 of them (at least) are going to be very upset IF they assumed their team were near-certain champions.

*Of course this number is more like 14 if you ask the armchair whingers of English social media.

 

[matticus]

The Azteca is at 2,240 m
That's going to be a tough ask, and I doubt the management know which players might struggle more than others at that height.

The football world seems to in uncharted territory here, so it's probably funny for cycling fans to watch - we're well used to an aerobic endurance sport where key action often takes place around that altitude!

You're probably right that they don't know. BUT I think there is simple science out there for them to assess, it should they choose. I *believe* you can just put athletes on a treadmill connected to an air supply where the gas levels are controlled and varied. As you perhaps hint, it would make sense to feed this info into team-selection!

No wonder Mexico have such a great record there.

I think this has been partially debunked over the last week-or-so? They've mainly beaten pretty ropey teams at their home ground in recent years. Don't ask me for a citation!

However, it would be nice to avenge England's 1986 defeat there to the cheating coke snorting Argie.

 

[laurentian]

The football world seems to in uncharted territory here, so it's probably funny for cycling fans to watch - we're well used to an aerobic endurance sport where key action often takes place around that altitude!

You're probably right that they don't know. BUT I think there is simple science out there for them to assess, it should they choose. I *believe* you can just put athletes on a treadmill connected to an air supply where the gas levels are controlled and varied. As you perhaps hint, it would make sense to feed this info into team-selection!

I think this has been partially debunked over the last week-or-so? They've mainly beaten pretty ropey teams at their home ground in recent years. Don't ask me for a citation!

I think I'm right in saying that Mexico have played 88 games over 66 years at The Azteca and only lost two in competitive matches. this will be far and away England's toughest match so far

 

[icowden]

I think I'm right in saying that Mexico have played 88 games over 66 years at The Azteca and only lost two in competitive matches. this will be far and away England's toughest match so far

It does seem a little unfair that Mexico are acclimatised whilst England Players will not be. Doesn't seem like an equal match.

 

[icowden]

The football world seems to in uncharted territory here, so it's probably funny for cycling fans to watch - we're well used to an aerobic endurance sport where key action often takes place around that altitude!

I'm pretty sure that the cyclists acclimate beforehand though.

 

[Pblakeney]

It does seem a little unfair that Mexico are acclimatised whilst England Players will not be. Doesn't seem like an equal match.

Home advantage shocker!

 

[PurplePenguin]

Whilst the England team would do well to rapidly go to altitude, they'll never be as acclimatised as the locals. I played football at 4000m and had kids and old men run rings around me. I was really really well acclimatised at the time, but completely destroyed playing football.

 

[C R]

Whilst the England team would do well to rapidly go to altitude, they'll never be as acclimatised as the locals. I played football at 4000m and had kids and old men run rings around me. I was really really well acclimatised at the time, but completely destroyed playing football.

The locals have a genetic advantage. In the Bolivian Andes above 3000m, the Spanish colonisers found that European women could not carry a pregnancy to term, whereas the locals did. It was later determined that the locals have adapted to the thinner atmosphere, and their blood and respiratory system are more efficient.

 

[Pross]

The Azteca is at 2,240 m
That's going to be a tough ask, and I doubt the management know which players might struggle more than others at that height.

No wonder Mexico have such a great record there.

However, it would be nice to avenge England's 1986 defeat there to the cheating coke snorting Argie.

They should bring Crouch out of retirement, he's used to it.

 

[icowden]

The locals have a genetic advantage. In the Bolivian Andes above 3000m, the Spanish colonisers found that European women could not carry a pregnancy to term, whereas the locals did. It was later determined that the locals have adapted to the thinner atmosphere, and their blood and respiratory system are more efficient.

In a similar way the Nepalese Sherpa can manage at high altitudes much better than anyone else because their bodies have genetically adapted.

 

[BoldonLad]

The locals have a genetic advantage. In the Bolivian Andes above 3000m, the Spanish colonisers found that European women could not carry a pregnancy to term, whereas the locals did. It was later determined that the locals have adapted to the thinner atmosphere, and their blood and respiratory system are more efficient.

Is this the beginning of the excuse(s) for our demise, come Sunday? 😊

I will add it to my list of topics to raise with my football loving drinking pals on Friday, at the pub, I am going to be almost a guru, taking into account Andy's tips too 😂