lto the Spanish team is going to go in four days from playing at sea level (in La Coruña, against Iraq) to doing so against Peru in Puebla, at 2,135 meterss. Before passing through its base camp, in Chattanooga (206 meters above sea level).
In the Spanish dawn from Monday to Tuesday, at four, From the Source will rehearse for the last time in a match before the World Cup debut. They will do so with a team very similar to the one that starts against Cape Verde.
To the test before Peru in Puebla will join the match against Uruguay. The one that closes the group stage will be played in Guadalajara, at 1,566 meters. The first two will be at 320 in Atlanta. It has been shown that in high altitude conditions the distance that the player is able to travel is reduced by between 3% and 9% and that the speed drops by 21%.
The reduction in aerobic capacity is one of the effects of altitude. VO2 max (maximum oxygen consumption) drops between 6% and 8%. This translates into worse recovery between efforts, more accumulation of fatigue, greater cardiovascular stress and increased perception of effort.
The midfielders
Studies on what it means to play at height indicate that they reduce total distance traveled, high speed runs, acceleration/deceleration abilityny that triggers neuromuscular fatigue. And these effects have midfielders as their favorite victims. Because they are the ones who combine efforts the most, sustain pressure, cover the most meters and need to continually recover.
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The recommendation to arrive days in advance is impossible to comply with. Spain has chosen to spend as little time as possible in Puebla. What she has done during the week she has been concentrating on is carrying out training aimed at reducing the effects of the 2,135 meters of Puebla. For example, training in hypoxia zones to improve oxygen transport.