England will be pushed to the peak of their physical limits at high altitudes in Mexico City for their World Cup last-16 clash.But national manager Thomas Tuchel will be left dizzy looking at the Three Lions’ record when oxygen is low, but the pressure is high.England will have to cope with the altitude as well as the atmosphere in MexicoGettyEngland return to the Azteca Stadium to face Mexico, where the World Cup co-hosts have lost just twice in 88 games.Tuchel has already admitted to talkSPORT that it will be ‘impossible’ for his players to acclimatise to air containing 20 per cent less oxygen.Harry Kane and co. came from behind to beat DR Congo 2-1 in their first knockout game, but now return to their Kansas City base.England will travel to Mexico a day before their last-16 match, which will be staged at 7,220 feet – around 2,240 metres – above sea level.Due to Europe’s relatively low altitudes, the World Cup is the only major tournament in which they have to play in these conditions.And unfortunately, England fans will be at the height of discomfort looking at their record in high altitudes in years gone by…Mexico – 1970 World CupEngland travelled to Mexico as reigning world champions after their 1966 triumph on home soil in a complete contrast of conditions.Alf Ramsey’s side had warmed up with a successful acclimation tour of South America where they beat both Colombia and Ecuador.The official defence of their World Cup trophy began with three group stage matches in Guadalajara’s Estádio Jalisco.The Estadio Azteca is one of the most iconic stadiums at the World CupGettyThe ‘Pearl of the West’ is 1,560 meters above sea level (5,120 feet above sea level), which is ominously much lower than its capital.England beat Romania and Czechoslovakia 1-0, either side of losing to Brazil by the same score, which featured that Gordon Banks save.The Three Lions then made the trip to the Estado de Guanajuato in León, where the conditions were even more draining.And as is the case this weekend, their opponents had the advantage of already being acclimatised, having played there three times.It resulted in England blowing a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 to West Germany in extra time in the draining 1,815m (5,955ft) high altitude.“The whole thing was unreal, a freak of nature,” Ramsey said post-match. “The England team played tremendously. For an hour, they were brilliant. The Germans were never in the match. If I could do this all over again, I wouldn’t alter anything!”The Hand of God goalThe Jules Rimet trophy returned to Mexico 16 years later for the 1986 World Cup, and England again tried to acclimatise pre-tournament.Two defeats, to the hosts and Italy, plus a 3-0 win over West Germany took place in this weekend’s venue in the 1985 Ciudad de México Cup.When the World Cup got underway, England were scheduled to play all three group games in the favourable conditions of Monterrey.They returned to the Azteca for the round of 16, where they put Paraguay to the sword with three unanswered goals.However, next came a game that defined both England and the World Cup as a whole in a 2-1 defeat to Diego Maradona‘s Argentina.Maradona scored two of the most famous goals of all time against England at the 1986 World Cup – including the infamous ‘Hand of God’Bob Thomas Sports Photography - GettyWhether the high altitudes played a factor in stopping El Pibe de Oro (‘The Golden Boy’) – both for the Hand of God and his ‘Goal of the Century’ will be a matter of debate.Former England star Trevor Steven, who played midfield that day, admitted Bobby Robson’s game plan was tailored around the heat.But then Maradona’s handball flipped the script, with Steven telling the I: “We’re 1-0 down and even before we had a new strategy he’d picked up the ball and did what he did for the second goal.“It was a double whammy. He was the only one who had real control of the conditions; everybody else really struggled.”England players looked lethargic trying to chase after Maradona for his ‘goal of the century’USA wins 1-1According to the New York Post, England’s 2010 World Cup opener was the greatest tie against the British since Bunker Hill…Fabio Capello‘s pre-tournament high-altitude training camp in the Austrian Alps clearly didn’t prepare the squad for the Highveld.“The altitude has been more of a surprise to me. Your mouth is really dry,” John Terry told the BBC following the arrival in South Africa. “We train at quite a high level anyway; coming here was another 150m higher again, and we certainly felt that,” he added.England’s game against the US was played at altitude in Rustenburg, a venue 1403m above sea level, and it showed as a Rob Green howler allowed Clint Dempsey to cancel out Steven Gerrard‘s strike.England majorly disappointed across the 2010 World CupGetty View this post on Instagram Lampard’s Ghost GoalIn the 2010 World Cup, England staged their other two group games against Algeria and Slovenia in coastal, sea-level cities.But their last-16 clash ensured Capello’s Three Lions returned to thin, dry air and by full-time, it wasn’t just the players feeling sick.A meeting with Germany was held at Bloemfontein’s Free State Stadium, which sits at a high altitude of 1,395 meters (4,577 feet).England began at a sleepy pace and found themselves two goals down before almost fighting back after Matthew Upson’s header.Frank Lampard then beat Manuel Neuer with a wonderhit from the edge of the area that infamously wasn’t awarded in the pre-VAR era.Germany ultimately ran out 4-1 winners in what was the Three Lions’ biggest defeat in a World Cup…People forget how outrageous this goal would have beenGettyEngland's Record at High AltitudeWorld Cup FinalsPlayed: 8Wins: 3 Draws: 1 Defeats: 4 Goals For: 10 Goals Against: 11 Goal Difference: -1