Weather forecasting in the United States has become an exact science. And there is no doubt that England manager Thomas Tuchel will be closely monitoring the latest information ahead of Saturday’s quarter-final in Miami.
Temperatures are currently around 33 degrees with a threat of thunderstorms, but there will be no threat of thunderstorms when England take on Norway at 6pm local time. One thing is for sure: the football association is keeping an eye on the weather forecast after the hour-long delay in Mexico City. That’s because teams need to be well prepared, and England have already been hit twice this summer.
Even before the World Cup, they were hit by a huge storm ahead of a friendly against Costa Rica, significantly delaying their stay in Orlando. That was easy to solve. England’s players stayed in a nearby hotel and arrived at the stadium only when the storm had passed.
Last Sunday in Mexico, the forecast and timing were correct and we ended up arriving at Azteca more than an hour and a half before the game was scheduled to start. That’s the biggest thing to overcome. It’s about being well prepared and getting the timing right.
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The advantage of this part of the world and the weather app is its reliability, as it allows you to track the weather in Mexico City very accurately. Unsurprisingly, FIFA even tried to push the kick-off forward, citing weather and fan safety. After the last game between Mexico and Ecuador, four fans were crushed to death.
In the end, the kickoff remained the same and the game was only delayed by an hour. But in reality, the Aztecs are an old stadium, and even though the locker rooms are very small, they have adapted and have a warm-up area in the back.
It’s where players can ride stationary bikes, there’s a recovery area, and where players can stay hydrated. Players are stretching and riding stationary bikes in the Aztecs’ warm-up area, and they’re ready to do the same in Miami.
England and Mexico’s final 16 match was delayed due to weather (Image: AFP or licensor)
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Weather delays are common, but very rarely last very long. Last summer’s Club World Cup match between Chelsea and Benfica in Charlotte was dragged on for nearly two hours, with the match only finishing 4 hours and 38 minutes after it started.
In fact, Charlotte is a hotspot for extreme weather and storms, and the newest MLS stadium is prepared for delays. It’s a similar story at England’s stadium in Miami on Saturday. Miami has a history of tornadoes, and England’s training base in Kansas City is a real hotspot, so it’s safe to say England are bracing themselves and preparing.
What actually happened in Charlotte was that Chelsea players, including current teammate Reece James, used stationary bikes to keep their legs spinning and there was a warm-up area where players could stretch on mats.
Fans don’t blink an eye if there’s a delay because they’re used to it and they’re ready on the concourse. Dean Smith, the former Aston Villa manager and current Charlotte manager, said American stadiums, players and teams are used to delays.
Smith said: “It’s just a matter of getting used to it and I think that was the message for all the teams going into the World Cup. Of course it’s frustrating at times, but the circumstances are very different and a lot of it is psychological. But try to stay warm, make sure your muscles don’t tighten up and stay focused.”
“It’s up to the states to decide what the rules are, but the players have adapted to it and it will be the same in England and at the World Cup. The stadium facilities are second to none.”
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Weather delays are determined by thunderstorms in the United States. Most states suspend games for 30 minutes if lightning strikes within a 10-mile radius. Whenever lightning strikes in most states, players are removed from the field and weather protocols are reset for another 30 minutes. It happened during England’s training camp, at the training ground in Florida and on his first day in Kansas City.
England’s coaching team are actually more used to it and prepared for it than you might think. They’re scratching their heads about it.
Former Canadian national team manager John Herdman, who was born in County Durham and now works in Indonesia, told Mirror Football last year:
“If you have to move hotels because of flooding, or your training camp is hit by a tornado, don’t give your players an escape route, don’t give them excuses. Be good at dealing with disruptions. There are two schools of thought.
“And I don’t know who’s right or who’s wrong, but if you ask me, you have to accept it, don’t overthink it, and that’s probably the right way to go in a very difficult and challenging situation no matter how much you prepare.”
“You can prepare as much as you want, but I think the trick may be to embrace it rather than get too organized. Teams that operate with the right mindset could have a huge advantage.”
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