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England’s preparations for their FIFA World Cup Round of 16 clash against Mexico were disrupted after hundreds of home supporters gathered outside the team’s hotel in the early hours, using drums, trumpets and fireworks in an apparent attempt to keep the players awake.The incident came as England were already trying to adjust to the challenges of playing in Mexico City, where the high altitude is expected to be a major factor during the knockout encounter at the iconic Estadio Azteca. Despite the disruption, England manager Thomas Tuchel insisted his players remained focused on the task ahead.Watch:Tuchel admitted that he had personally experienced some of the effects of Mexico City’s altitude, including headaches and difficulty sleeping, but stressed that the squad was adapting.“We feel it [the altitude], even if we don’t train,” Tuchel told reporters. “I felt a slight headache in the hotel room throughout the day and didn’t sleep as well as the days before but nothing that you cannot handle and cannot adapt to.”“I think the players felt it in the first minutes of the training session and the longer it went on, they could cope with it better. It is just what it is. We cannot physically adapt, it’s just impossible. But we are here one day before to experience it at least, to not have all the first time experience tomorrow.”The England manager also warned that Mexico’s aggressive approach on home soil, combined with the difficult conditions, could make the opening stages of the match particularly challenging for his side.“It is not a coincidence that Mexico normally start their matches at home normally very strong, very front-footed, very aggressively because I think the first 15-20 minutes will maybe be the toughest for us. Once we overcome that and we experienced it a little bit already today, I think we are in a good place,” he added.England enter the match after beating DR Congo 2-1 in the previous round, but face a stern challenge against a Mexico side that has yet to concede a goal in the tournament.
