Tuchel sounds the alarm on Fifa altitude rule

Tuchel: Fifa rule puts England at a 'huge' disadvantage

Thomas Tuchel is not happy. The England manager says a Fifa regulation on acclimatisation leaves your team at a serious disadvantage ahead of the Round of 32 tie against DR Congo at the Azteca. The match will be played at 2,240 metres above sea level, and Tuchel believes the rule governing how long teams can train at altitude is hurting your preparation.

Security review at England hotel

The FA are reviewing security at the team hotel in Mexico City before the last-16 match. Details are limited, but the review was confirmed ahead of Friday's session.

Fan reactions

The altitude story has the fanbase split between panic and gallows humour. One camp is genuinely worried about the fitness gap against a DR Congo side already acclimatised. The other is running with the Viagra headlines after reports WADA permits its use for altitude, the jokes about "rising to the occasion" at the Azteca are writing themselves. The "Hand of God" karma angle from Tuchel landed well too: plenty of supporters are leaning into the idea that the football gods owe England one in that stadium. Full thread