England have a multi-stage plan in place in order to combat the sizzling heat of the Qatari desert ahead of their World Cup opener against Iran.
Gareth Southgate ’s Three Lions have already flown over to the country ahead of Monday’s Group B opener and have taken part in a number of training sessions as final preparations are complete. One aspect that players and staff have had to grow used to over recent days are the scorching temperatures over in Qatar, with the thermometers rising up to heats of 33 degrees throughout their stay so far.
The forecast is not predicting a drop any time soon meaning that the temperatures could potentially cause havoc during England’s clash with Iran. Luckily, Southgate and his staff have put a detailed plan in place in order to combat the blistering heat.
Since arriving in Qatar on Tuesday evening, training sessions have been staged at 12:30pm - the hottest period of the day - to allow players to acclimatise to the heat ahead of their meeting with Iran later in the day. The game is set to kick off at 1pm GMT (4pm Qatar time) meaning that it should not be quite so hot when they take to the pitch for the first time in the tournament.
In the meantime, it is hoped that the earlier training time will guard against mental fatigue and ease biorhythm functions. Southgate and his staff are open to changing that though, with it being expected that training sessions will be held later as the tournament progresses.
They will be scheduled closer to 4pm slot for their evening fixtures against the USA and fellow home nation Wales later in the group stages.
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Knockout games are also scheduled to take place in the evening, meaning that the threat of higher temperatures will be significantly reduced. Whilst training times have been under the microscope, further measures have been put in place to ensure players remain cool.
A mist machine - affectionately nicknamed ‘the heat shack’ - has been installed at the side of England’s training pitch. Ice towels, packs and vests have also all been on offer during sessions.
Air conditioning will be available at the Khalifa Stadium unlike Wembley which will significantly reduce the temperatures but players are no doubt still expected to feel the effects.
Plenty of work has gone into the research behind England’s reaction to the soaring temperatures in Qatar. Their clash with Croatia in their Euro 2020 opener at Wembley last summer was used as a reference point for FA staff.
During that game, temperatures went close to those seen in Qatar in what was a scorching summer for the UK.
In the meantime, research has long been ongoing into the consequences of heat on players. Work has been conducted since 2017 in anticipation of the previous World Cup in Russia where England reached the semi-finals.
Players felt the effects first-hand of heat in the summer having slumped to a 1-0 defeat to Hungary in Budapest - Southgate having put the loss down to the rising temperatures. Speaking at the time, he said: "I think we knew it was going to be a very difficult game.
"We've had difficult games with them, with Hungary, as other big nations have had. They're very difficult to break down.
"We probably lacked a half-yard I would say, in terms of our real incisiveness. I think that was more the heat than the length of the season.”
