England Manager Praises Mexico Fans Ahead of World Cup Last-16 Match

Thomas Tuchel described Mexico fans as respectful even after some supporters tried to wake the England squad overnight at their team hotel. The manager said security measures kept the situation under control and that he expected the team to get adequate rest before the 6 p.m. local-time kickoff.

Guard positioned personnel at the hotel entrance to keep supporters at a distance. Tuchel noted that the team encountered both cheers and boos upon arrival in Mexico City. He added that the overall environment had been calm and that no problems had arisen so far.

Tuchel said the squad has a plan to manage the effects of playing at 2,200 metres above sea level. He warned that the first 15 to 20 minutes would feel especially difficult but expected the players to adjust once past that period. The manager said other teams that arrived without time to acclimatise reported hitting a physical wall early in matches.

England's victory would set up a quarter-final against either Brazil or Norway. Tuchel called the fixture a proper World Cup match in an iconic stadium and city. He said the atmosphere would sharpen the team's focus and bring out their best performance.