General world cup thread - effects of Altitude

Psycho Sonny

Psycho Sonny

Psycho Sonny

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Yes i know about the official threads but i didnt know where to put this question so im making a general thread for general world cup talk/questions unrelated to a specific team or group..

Anyway theres been a lot of talk about Altitude and the problems it could cause at this world cup. Players getting tired, etc.

How high up are they playing? it doesnt seem that high? and how high do you need to be to see a detrimental affect to your physical or mental ability.

Surely if it was going to affect the players a lot, fifa would have thought about this before making the world cup in south africa.

Therefore i dont think its a valid excuse, its just something to blame for some countries poor showings. Germany had no problems. Brazil wont have any either tomorrow.

Thoughts?
 
The Germany game was played at sea level so wouldn't have been affected by altitude.

It is a very real problem, Fifa banned teams from playing above a certain altitude(Source). It has since been over turned but there are often surprise results in South American qualifying at high altitude venues.

As for Fifa caring about the altitude, well they've staged two world cups in Mexico where the final was played in a ground higher than any featured in this world cup. I doubt they really give it much thought.
 
The Highveld can vary anywhere between 1 to 3 km above sea level with the average in the 1.2-1.8 km level which falls into the medical classification of High Altitude.

When Rugby matchs are played in the Highveld it is expected that a punted ball will travel anywhere between 10-20 metres further. In A conversation I had with an ex RFU physio last year he was saying that you could expect a fully fit but unacclimatised Elite Rugby player to begin building high levels of Lactic acid in 20% less time than it would normally take, combine that with a less efficient food digestion it becomes difficult to keep an athlete in peak condition whilst acclimatising and can take a few weeks to get that fitness level back even after acclimatisation has happened.
 
Altitude does play quite a big part. When you arrive in Johannesburg coming from sea level you will feel out of breath very quickly for a few weeks as you acclimatise. With Rugby you can see the goal kickers going a good 10-15 metres further for goal than at sea level.

Personally I have played golf in Johannesburg and surroundings and even with such a small ball you have to adjust as you hit the ball 15-20 metres further than at the coast.
 
It's just the same with cricket, you don't have to get much bat on ball and it just travels out the ground.

Personally i've been to joburg 4/5 times in last few years, going out for a run always seems much harder work than here.
 
"I went for a 30 minute run on the beach with someone this morning and commented that the altitude wasn't really affecting me until they pointed out we were on the beach" - Robbie Savage

:D
 
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