England’s manager Thomas Tuchel feels World Cup karma will be on his team’s side at Azteca for the round of 16 clash against co-hosts Mexico on Sunday.
The Three Lions will return to the historic stadium for the first time since their unforgettable match against Diego Maradona’s Argentina in 1986. The legendary player had scored with a hand in Argentina’s 2-1 quarterfinal win against England at the same venue.
Asked if the ‘Hand of God’ will be in the air 40 years on, he said: “Yes, it will reward us. We will get it back. It’s karma. Karma will come back for us. We will turn it around.
“I remember of course the World Cup of Maradona. The two goals against England — the one dribbling and the one which would never stand these days.
“I remember that something was hanging in the middle of the Azteca and the shadow never moved. It was like a board hanging and the sun was so steep the shadow was always around the middle circle.
“I was 13 years old and Germany played [Argentina] in the final.
“It’s an iconic stadium. I remember the coffee table book that came from it and the pictures with all these flags and stuff.
“Super excited to have this match. It’s an iconic match to play against Mexico in Mexico but we will play against the whole country, the energy of the whole country, in their stadium.”
England will have to play 2000 meters above sea level and Mexico will definitely have the advantage.
“We will go one night earlier [than usual and travel on Friday], it makes sense,” said Tuchel, who revealed the Football Association had done their “homework,” including speaking to Team GB.
“The ball will fly differently. It will fly maybe five yards more. It’s just difficult. We just need the experience.
“The recommendation is you either go 10 days before — which is too long for us — or last minute, which is not allowed.
“We have spoken to teams who do it and they say they travel very, very late on matchday if they cannot have time to adapt.
“It’s not possible so we find a mixture in between, but it will stay as a disadvantage.”
Asked if the situation is unfair, the England boss said: “It is a huge advantage [for Mexico] of course but that’s just what it is.”
England would look to deliver as a unit.
