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Ice vests, deliberate training in the blazing midday sun and a ‘heat shack’ along the pitch with fog machines… How England plan to counter Qatar’s extreme heat as the mercury rises to 33C ahead of their World Cup opener
- England’s opening match at the World Cup with Iran on Monday starts at 4 p.m. Qatar time
- Temperatures will be high, although air conditioning in the stadium will help things
- It has been as hot as 33 degrees Celsius since Three Lions arrived for the World Cup
- They deliberately trained in the afternoon to help players adjust to the heat
- Stars use ice towels and have an area along the field where they can cool off
- Click here for the latest World Cup 2022 news, schedules, live action and results
England have hatched a detailed plan to ensure players stay cool and beat the heat in their quest to win the World Cup.
Playing possession-based football is an integral part of the philosophy imposed by Gareth Southgate during his reign and controlling the pace of matches – particularly during Monday’s 4pm opening against Iran – to mitigate the impact of the heat has been re-emphasized for players.
The fact that stadiums are air-conditioned – which should bring the temperature down to around 23 degrees – will ease the pressure of the heat on match days.
The England players cool down in fog machines at their pitchside heat shack during training
England deliberately trains in the hottest temperatures, so that the players can get used to the extreme heat of Qatar. Marcus Rashford is in the photo
Nevertheless, England pundits have taken a host of measures to ensure that the impact on players during matches and training is kept to a minimum.
Temperatures have risen to 33 degrees since England arrived here on Tuesday evening.
Players trained at 12:30 p.m. for the past two days, the hottest time of the day.
Team members have talked amongst themselves about how hot it was during their opening sessions at their Al Wakrah Sports Complex.
The staff has stressed to the players how important it is for them to adapt to the heat as quickly as possible. Exposing them to the blistering midday sun on their opening days here in Qatar is a deliberate trick to get them used to the temperatures as quickly as possible. possible.
Eric Dier takes the water on board during a training session in the warm weather on Friday
James Maddison has his training load under control after suffering a knee problem
It is also hoped that the earlier training sessions will guard against mental fatigue and ease biorhythm functions.
Going forward, England will adjust their training schedule accordingly as they approach each game. It is clear that the sessions will be held closer to 4pm on Friday and Saturday to replicate the conditions for the game against Iran.
The games against the USA and Wales will both be played at 10pm when temperatures are considerably cooler. The knockout matches are also played after the sun has set.
To reduce the impact of the heat during training, a fog machine – nicknamed ‘the heat shack’ – has been placed on the side of the English training field.
Players also use ice towels, a tactic first used in last year’s European Championship opening match against Croatia.
Ice packs and ice vests have also been offered to players during their training sessions to keep them cool.
The sky-high temperatures during last year’s clash against Croatia and Wembley have been used by England staff as a reference point to psychologically prepare the players for the game against Iran.
Temperatures could reach 29 degrees at the Khalifa Stadium on Monday afternoon, and while air conditioning will reduce the impact of the heat, England are taking every precaution to ensure their players are fully prepared.
The impact of rising temperatures on players has been a subject that has been extensively researched since 2017 by Football Association officials in preparation for the last World Cup in Russia.
The fog machines in the heat shack offer English players a welcome change in Qatar
England players have commented on the heat during training sessions as their bodies adapt
During their research, they have analyzed how other sports deal with heat and believe they have taken the right measures to help optimize performance in hot conditions.
Meanwhile, expectations are growing that Southgate will select Harry Maguire in Monday’s opener against Iran, despite Manchester United’s troubled domestic campaign.
Maguire has barely featured at club level this season, prompting intense scrutiny into his position in England’s starting eleven.
However, Maguire is about to start against Iran in what would be a massive vote of confidence from Southgate.
But there is mounting concern over James Maddison’s involvement in Monday’s game as he missed practice for the second consecutive day.
The team has been given ice towels and ice vests to regulate their body temperature
The Leicester midfielder missed Thursday’s session, his omission being explained as trying to manage his training load.
But Maddison skipped practice again on Friday to cast further doubt on his role in Monday’s opener against Iran.
The attacker briefly appeared with the rest of his teammates, but promptly walked back inside as the session began.
It was also noticeable that he wore sports shoes and football boots.
Maddison hobbled with a knee problem in the first half of Leicester’s win over West Ham on Saturday.