Mexico head coach Javier Aguirre has expressed fury over the decision to change the kick-off time for their World Cup match against England at Azteca Stadium. The game was originally scheduled for 6pm local time on Sunday (1am BST Monday) but has been moved to 12pm local time (7pm BST Sunday) due to forecasts of heavy thunderstorms and rain. FIFA has yet to officially announce the change.
Aguirre's reaction
Speaking to Radio Formula, Aguirre said: 'This change feels like a kick in the stomach. Now we have to rethink everything. It’s not like all the work we’ve done goes out the window, but it comes pretty close because we’re losing six hours that were part of our entire matchday plan.'
He added: 'There’s absolutely no advantage to playing at noon. None whatsoever. It really throws a wrench into everything. FIFA is in charge, so we’ll just have to deal with it. If anyone asked me, I’d say keep the 6pm kick-off.'
Impact on team preparation
Aguirre highlighted the impact on player recovery, noting that two players are not fully fit. 'Recovery is the issue. I have two players who are not fully fit, and those extra six hours would have helped. It seems insignificant, but it’s not. The medical staff has been working to have them ready for 6pm, not 12pm, so now I may have to take them out of the starting line-up.'
Mexico has yet to concede a goal in the tournament, and Aguirre believes the change disrupts their home advantage. 'At 6pm I don’t care who the opponent is because it’s my home, it’s my time, and it’s what suits us best,' he said.
