England footballers get specialised masks for World Cup preparation

Published>Tue, May 18 10 08:08 PM

London, May 18 (IANS) England footballers will get oxygen masks as a part of their altitude training programme, in Austria, that have been carefully prepared to ensure that they are ready for the rarefied conditions they may face in South Africa during next month's World Cup.

The masks are made of silicon gel with head-straps which the players can fix on. It means they are able to walk around or watch television while wearing the masks.

The masks - like the so-called altitude tents - use generators to pump diluted air, with lower concentrations of oxygen which simulate the effects of altitude, and players are expected to wear them intermittently, usually at rest, for up to an hour a day. They can also be used while running on a treadmill.

The Daily Telegraph said that discussions are going on about whether the players should instead sleep in so-called altitude tents flown over to be installed at the five-star Hotel Schloss Pichlarn.

England manager Fabio Capello, however, has decided against this. The daily said that Capello decided against the move because he does not think it necessary but also because he does not want to unduly worry his players, or distract them, with too much talk of being at altitude and the effect it will have on them.

Capello wants a 'low-key approach' and a gentle build-up to preparations, especially as England have two group games at sea level in Cape Town and Port Elizabeth.

So the masks have been deemed more suitable. England also fly to South Africa June 2 so they have 10 days to adjust to the conditions there before their first game.

World Cup matches at seven of the 10 stadiums will take place at heights ranging from 2,165 feet in Nelspruit to higher than a mile above sea level in Johannesburg. England's base in South Africa, in Rustenburg, is at 4,920 feet.

England are not the only nation training in Austria. Spain, Holland, Serbia, Slovakia, South Korea, Cameroon, New Zealand and Honduras are also there while nine other countries, including Greece and North Korea, will play there.

Source: Web Search