Comments on: Stealing the headlines

By: Seba

Seba — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 16:32:58 +0000

In fact, when Argentina defeated Bolivia in the previous qualifiers at La Paz (2-1 with Pekerman as manager), the team also arrived there only a couple of hours before the match.

There’s no antidote to the altitude but in this case it was impossible to bring a decent enough team with plenty of days to acclimatise. To fly just before the game was the only option.

By: hastaelgolsiempre

hastaelgolsiempre — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 22:22:52 +0000

They’ve been playing away games in Bolivia long enough to know how to prepare by now, Justin. For high-altitude matches, when the players aren’t used to that altitude, there are two ideal methods of preparation: either arrive several days beforehand, giving time to acclimatise fully, or fly in immediately before the match. It’s something to do with the length of time the body takes to adjust – between roughly 36 hours to four days, you’ll feel absolutely screwed, but after OR BEFORE that time, your body has either recovered, or hasn’t yet been hit by the effects.

This was explained more properly in an article I read a couple of years ago when there was all that fuss about FIFA banning high-altitude matches.

I only saw the score when I came online to watch the match after the England game – didn’t expect it to already have been played! I’m not sure where to even begin writing this up for HEGS…

By: Johnny

Johnny — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 22:22:40 +0000

Wow ! I didn’t know that Justin. I would think that would be a VERY bad idea. Of course, with hindsight easy to say. I didn’t realize how “tall” La Paz really is. 13,000 and some odd feet. By comparison, I think Mexico City is 7,000 and something feet, and when living in Mexico City awhile back, I used to have some shortness of breath there. As Seba opined on his blog, Bolivia should have the right to play their home matches where they wish, but it is a huge advantage no matter how you cut it.

By: justin

justin — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 22:10:06 +0000

Maybe arriving in La Paz the day of the game wasn’t such a great idea.

By: Johnny

Johnny — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 21:34:54 +0000

6-1, not 5-1 ! No joke !!! Fire Carrizo !!

By: Fernando

Fernando — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 21:32:51 +0000

Hahaha, yes I love the April Fool’s joke where we lose to Bolivia 5-1 during the qualifiers, very very funny … wait, what do you mean ‘that’s not joke’?

By: Johnny

Johnny — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 13:40:35 +0000

Ha Ha ! Yes, I agree, Gago is a monster. As for Cambiasso, a helluva nice guy, fine footballer, but there are other players available with skills equal to those of Cucho. And Higuain ? I think he will eventually get a shot, but hey, the competition is fierce !

By: Seba

Seba — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 03:54:19 +0000

GAGO is a monster!

By: batistuta

batistuta — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 03:05:43 +0000

where is cambiasso & higuain ? why gago ?

By: justin

justin — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 02:14:17 +0000

Happy to see Lucho back in the side.