Anderson Must Deliver His £116m Price Tag as England Face Mexico's Altitude Test

England's prospects against Mexico at the Azteca are looking decidedly grim – unless Elliot Anderson can justify his £116m valuation by unleashing some low, driven efforts that might just find the target.

Thomas Tuchel's squad weren't quite as dreadful against DR Congo on a second viewing, but they'll need considerably more at altitude to trouble the Mexicans.

The Altitude Question

Mexico City sits roughly 2,000 metres above sea level, and while there's been chatter about England attempting rapid acclimatisation, the science simply doesn't stack up. Proper altitude adaptation requires several weeks at specialist camps – the kind of preparation athletes undertake before major championships when they'll compete closer to sea level. Five days simply won't cut it.

Tuchel himself has acknowledged this reality, which makes the whole altitude debate rather moot. Mexico, by contrast, will have been training at this elevation for two to three weeks, handing them a genuine physical advantage. Couple that with their home crowd and England's unconvincing tournament displays so far, and the outlook becomes genuinely troubling.

Anderson's Low Shots Could Be the Answer

One intriguing tactical possibility involves Anderson's trademark low, driven shots. At altitude, where the air is thinner, such strikes behave differently – the ball doesn't dip as dramatically through its flight path, potentially slipping past the goalkeeper's hands more easily. It's a specific advantage worth exploiting against a Mexican side defending their home turf.

Tactical Concerns Beyond the Obvious

Questions persist about England's wide play under Tuchel's system. The current setup appears to ask wingers – if you can even call them that – to perform contradictory tasks: crossing with their weaker foot, cutting inside into congested central areas already occupied by Kane, Bellingham, Rice and others, or making driving runs into spaces that simply don't exist against compact defences.

Inside forward movements work beautifully on the counter-attack where space and pace allow genuine shooting opportunities. Against a low block, however, they become largely ineffective. It's hardly surprising that Rashford and Madueke have struggled to provide end product when asked to operate in such restrictive circumstances.

The Broader Tournament Narrative

England's World Cup journey continues to follow a familiar script: new tactical innovations promising success, players racing against time with injuries, squad selection drama, concerns about the team base, and inevitable scapegoating following disappointing results. It's a cycle as predictable as it is exhausting.

Yet upon reflection, England's display against DR Congo contained more substance than initial impressions suggested. The defence remained shaky, particularly on the right side early on, but the team maintained composure going forward and created genuine chances. Their goalkeeper opposition played exceptionally well – it wasn't simply individual brilliance that saw them through, despite the narrative suggesting otherwise.

Still, none of this suggests a tournament triumph is imminent. The Mexico fixture represents a significant examination, one where Anderson's specialist skill set and Tuchel's tactical adjustments will face their sternest test yet.