Former England defender Gary Neville was furious about the changes to the World Cup, about 48 hours before the Three Lions’ clash with Mexico.
Manager Gary Neville has slammed FIFA after plans to change the kick-off for England’s match against Mexico.
Gary Neville feels England are at a “disadvantage” in their World Cup last-16 clash with Mexico and criticized FIFA’s “mean” changes. Three Lions managers are stunned at the prospect of playing against co-hosts as fears of bad weather could push the match forward by six hours.
England were due to play Javier Aguirre’s side at 1am (British time), but the proposed move would mean the match would kick off at noon local time. Severe weather is forecast, meaning thunderstorms and flooding are possible in Mexico City. However, officials in England and Mexico are said to have learned of the change at the eleventh hour.
Manager Thomas Tuchel had planned for the uncomfortable conditions in the sweltering heat of the Mexican capital. However, potential changes from FIFA have yet to be confirmed, which has thrown a wrench in the plans and preparations, leaving the schedule focused on preparations for the 6pm local time kick-off.
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Neville, who was part of England’s coaching staff at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, believes the Three Lions’ opponents have the upper hand.
He said: “It’s going to be confusing, we know the conditions are huge for England in the competition we know. We talk a lot about the heat, but playing at 12 o’clock in Mexico and playing at 6 o’clock in the evening are very, very different.”
“So it’s worse for the players, it’s worse for our players. Let me be clear: this is a sporting disadvantage for England. There’s a sporting integrity issue here too, because I’ve never seen a League Two match moved, I’ve never seen a Sunday League match moved. FIFA, in a way, are willing to make it up and move the game.”
“It feels a little strange. We can put fan safety front and center, but we have a situation like this in this stadium and we need procedures to deal with it. To postpone a game to two days later is something I’ve never seen at any level.”
World Cup matches have already been suspended this summer due to thunderstorms, including Mexico’s Round of 32 win over Ecuador. (Image: Getty Images)
The former Manchester United captain continued: “In 2014, I went to Brazil as part of the coaching staff and played my first match in the highlands of Manaus.
“And you prepare all the details – obviously we lost that game, but we played very well in the first half – but you prepare everything in relation to the situation, the kick-off time, when you get on the plane and so on, so that you are exposed to the altitude at the right time.
“It’s going to be chaotic for England and they won’t like this. The players will work on it and they’ll never say anything negative because they can’t because it would be defeatist. But if FIFA did this, it would be detrimental to England’s players and their preparation.”
England may be furious at being blindsided by the organizers’ decision, but they are not alone in Ajule’s anger at the lack of consultation.
he said Friday. “Obviously it’s like a punch in the gut because it obviously changes everything, the game plan, everything, not everything goes away, but it changes six hours.
“I don’t like it at all, but obviously I’m going to do what FIFA says. But I don’t particularly like any of it and neither do my players.”
“It’s not a small change. This change is important,” added the Mexican coach. “I understand their reasoning and arguments, but no one consulted me. I’m very angry.”
Thunderstorms and bad weather can have a significant impact on soccer matches, especially during the World Cup. Already, France’s 3-0 win over Iraq in the group stage was suspended for two hours, and Mexico’s final knock-off, which ultimately defeated Ecuador 2-0, had its kick-off delayed by an hour due to thunderstorms.
Thunderstorm protocols are based on recommendations from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), not tournament organizer FIFA. According to the guidelines, if excrement is detected within an eight-mile radius of the stadium, the match must be stopped and suspended.
