ENGLAND players have been warned to expect a barrage of noise when they get to Mexico City.
Though have no special plans in place to dull the din beyond giving the Three Lions squad the standard ear-plugs and eye-masks they usually take on trips.
England take on co-hosts Mexico City in the quarter-finals of the World Cup early on Monday morning Credit: SHUTTERSTOCK
The Three Lions will face a hostile crowd at the revamped Azteca Stadium Credit: SHUTTERSTOCK
Mexican fans let off fireworks, banged drums and honked car horns outside Ecuador’s team hotel on the night before the two teams faced each other in the last 16 on Wednesday.
It was in a bid to disrupt the sleep of the South Americans, who ended up losing 2-0 to Raul Jimenez and Co the following day.
The disturbance was so loud that put in an official complaint to over the sneaky snooze-depriving tactic.
Thomas Tuchel’s men are aware they will likely face the same reception when they get to Mexico’s capital on Friday evening.
They hope to keep their location secret, but fear it will be leaked regardless.
In their kit bag they have ear-plugs and eye-masks to help them drift off and it will be the same this time.
Having pesky fans create a disturbance outside the hotel before a key game is nothing unusual for top-level players, with it being a regular obstacle for those who play in Europe.
England’s players who did not feature in Wednesday’s – which set up Sunday’s last-16 clash with – trained at their Kansas City base on Thursday.
Eberechi Eze and John Stones, who came on as late subs in the DR Congo game, also took part in the pared-down session.
Two-goal hero was among those who started against the Congolese who were doing recovery on bikes next to the pitch.
While injured pair Reece James and Jarell Quansah – out with respective hamstring and ankle issues – continued their own programmes inside and did not take part.
are leaving it until Friday to head to Mexico to limit the impact of possible altitude sickness, which tends to kick in between three and nine days.
Mexican fans could terrorise England’s hotel the night before the game the same way they did Ecuador’s Credit: SHUTTERSTOCK
They face Mexico at the Azteca Stadium on Sunday which is 2,200 metres above sea level.
It has been suggested that another reason why England are leaving it late to head to Mexico is due to concerns of spying on their training session.
Privacy to all of the Three Lions’ training sessions is always a significant factor in deciding the schedule.
But SunSport understands that maximising the players’ time at basecamp is more the motivating factor on this occasion.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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