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World Cup 2014: England and Italy Prepare to Play in Manaus World Cup 2014: England and Italy Prepare to Play in Manaus
(about 5 hours later)
MANAUS, Brazil — It is the one place all 32 teams probably wanted to avoid in the World Cup, this Amazon city where the heat and humidity feel like a dryer full of damp clothes.MANAUS, Brazil — It is the one place all 32 teams probably wanted to avoid in the World Cup, this Amazon city where the heat and humidity feel like a dryer full of damp clothes.
England’s reluctance was as wet and chilly as a weekend in Liverpool. Coach Roy Hodgson was only being honest when he slathered his discontent like sunscreen. But it did not sit well with the local mayor. Manaus wanted England, the mayor said, even less than England wanted Manaus. England’s reluctance was as chilly and soggy as a weekend in Liverpool. Coach Roy Hodgson was only being honest when he slathered his discontent like sunscreen. But it did not sit well with the local mayor. Manaus wanted England, the mayor said, even less than England wanted Manaus.
He asked for a better team, preferably one with a sensible and polite coach.He asked for a better team, preferably one with a sensible and polite coach.
Alas, neither side got its wish. England is here to face Italy on Saturday in rainforest conditions. The humidity percentage mirrors the daily average temperature range of 75 to 87, which, oddly enough, is about how many times England has lost a penalty-kick shootout. Alas, neither side got its wish. England is here to face Italy on Saturday in rain-forest conditions. The humidity percentage mirrors the daily average temperature range of 75 to 87, which, oddly enough, is about how many times England has lost a penalty-kick shootout.
Then there is the issue of malaria, not the disease so much as fevered reporting in British tabloids. Stories have warned of a beetle with jaws strong enough to snip the tip of a human finger. Plagues of mosquitos. Giant constricting snakes. And a tiny, vampire catfish said to be able to swim up the urethra of anyone who urinates in the Amazon River. Then there is the issue of malaria, not the disease so much as the fevered reporting in British tabloids. Stories have warned of a beetle with jaws strong enough to snip the tip of a human finger. Plagues of mosquitoes. Giant constricting snakes. And a tiny, vampire catfish said to be able to swim up the urethra of anyone who urinates in the Amazon River.
These alarmist anecdotes may also swim against the river of truth. But still.These alarmist anecdotes may also swim against the river of truth. But still.
“I’m not going anywhere near the jungle,” said Dean Ellis, an England fan from Sunderland. “I’m afraid of the creepy crawlies.”“I’m not going anywhere near the jungle,” said Dean Ellis, an England fan from Sunderland. “I’m afraid of the creepy crawlies.”
The put-upon mayor of Manaus, Arthur Virgilio Neto, has reminded everyone that he runs a city of two million people, one with a celebrated opera house, a vital industrial zone, sumptuous cuisine and a thriving eco-tourism industry. The put-upon mayor of Manaus, Arthur Virgílio Neto, has reminded everyone that he runs a city of two million people, one with a celebrated opera house, a vital industrial zone, sumptuous cuisine and a thriving base for eco-tourism.
Surely no other mayor of a World Cup city has ever felt the need to say, “There are not poisonous snakes and tarantulas roaming around the streets and falling from the trees.”Surely no other mayor of a World Cup city has ever felt the need to say, “There are not poisonous snakes and tarantulas roaming around the streets and falling from the trees.”
If the city snakes are not suffocating people, though, the heat and humidity might. Locals, according to The Associated Press, joke that there are two seasons in Manaus, summer and hell. If the city snakes are not suffocating, though, the heat and humidity can be. Locals, according to The Associated Press, joke that there are two seasons in Manaus, summer and hell.
No less an eminence than Stephen Hawking, the theoretical physicist, has calculated that England’s historic World Cup success has come more readily in temperate climes. A temperature rise of nine degrees, Hawking reported in a recent analysis, can decrease England’s chances by 59 percent. No less an eminence than Stephen Hawking, the theoretical physicist, has calculated that England’s historical World Cup success comes more readily in temperate climes. A temperature rise of nine degrees (5 degrees Celsius), Hawking reported in a recent analysis, can decrease England’s chances by 59 percent.
This seems to make sense. England hosted the only World Cup it won, in 1966, the same year the Beatles released the climatological B-side “Rain.” England’s current best player, Wayne Rooney, is as pale as mayonnaise. He would need a couple of tanning salon visits to qualify as pasty.This seems to make sense. England hosted the only World Cup it won, in 1966, the same year the Beatles released the climatological B-side “Rain.” England’s current best player, Wayne Rooney, is as pale as mayonnaise. He would need a couple of tanning salon visits to qualify as pasty.
No European team has won a World Cup played in North or South America. And supporters are not expecting any disruption of that futility in Brazil. No European team has won a World Cup played in North or South America. And supporters of a certain country are not expecting any disruption of that futility in Brazil.
“Humidity will kill an Englishman,” said Craig Hobson, a fan who flew here Thursday.“Humidity will kill an Englishman,” said Craig Hobson, a fan who flew here Thursday.
Sunset will come one minute before Saturday’s 6 p.m. kickoff. So it may make little difference that England will wear all-white uniforms. In fact, it might be a hindrance.Sunset will come one minute before Saturday’s 6 p.m. kickoff. So it may make little difference that England will wear all-white uniforms. In fact, it might be a hindrance.
England’s other jersey is red, which it wore in the 1966 final. It is a color, Hawking noted, that makes teams appear more confident and threatening, according to German psychologists. Of course, no matter the jersey color, it is difficult to seem intimidating when one is exhausted. England’s other jersey is red, which it wore in the 1966 final. It is a color, Hawking noted, found by German psychologists to make teams appear more confident and threatening. Of course, no matter the jersey color, it is difficult to seem intimidating when one is exhausted.
To prepare for Manaus, England held a camp in Portugal and trained wearing gloves, hats and layers of clothes. At their own national training center, players rode exercise bikes in hothouse conditions. No word on whether they also took turns under the French fry lamp at McDonalds. To prepare for Manaus, England held a camp in Portugal and trained in gloves, hats and layers of clothes. At their own national training center, players rode exercise bikes in hothouse conditions. No word on whether they also took turns under the French-fry lamp at McDonalds.
Another English training camp followed in boggy Miami, complete with industrial fans and recovery drinks customized for each player based on his sweat output. Italy, too, has trained on treadmills and bikes in a heat-acclimation chamber. All valid science. Plus, if the Tour de France breaks out in the middle of the World Cup, these teams will be ready. Another English training camp followed in boggy Miami, complete with industrial electric fans and recovery drinks customized for each player based on his sweat output. Italy, too, has trained on treadmills and bikes in a heat-acclimation chamber. All valid science. Plus, if the Tour de France breaks out in the middle of the World Cup, these teams will be ready.
“Everyone has been scared of this Manaus, so we are curious to see what it’s like to play there,” Giorgio Chiellini, the flinty Italian defender, told reporters.“Everyone has been scared of this Manaus, so we are curious to see what it’s like to play there,” Giorgio Chiellini, the flinty Italian defender, told reporters.
The United States will play Portugal in Manaus on June 22. But the Americans appear more amused than concerned about the swampy conditions. Geoff Cameron, a defender, noted that he played for four-plus seasons with Houston in Major League Soccer. The United States will play Portugal in Manaus on June 22. But the Americans appeared more amused than concerned about the swampy conditions. Geoff Cameron, a defender, noted that he played for four-plus seasons with the Houston Dynamo in Major League Soccer.
“If you can survive that, you can survive anything,” Cameron said.“If you can survive that, you can survive anything,” Cameron said.
Hodgson has made nice with Manaus and its mayor. And in recent days, he has downplayed the heat and humidity. Water breaks will be permitted during play Saturday. Ice vests, cold towels and slushies will likely be available. Maybe we will even hear the jingling of an ice cream truck.Hodgson has made nice with Manaus and its mayor. And in recent days, he has downplayed the heat and humidity. Water breaks will be permitted during play Saturday. Ice vests, cold towels and slushies will likely be available. Maybe we will even hear the jingling of an ice cream truck.
“Both England and Italy will suffer, so there is no sense in worrying about it,” said Andrea Pirlo, the exquisite Italian midfielder. “Both England and Italy will suffer, so there is no sense in worrying about it,” said Andrea Pirlo, the Italian midfielder.
Of course, there are always things to worry about at a World Cup match played in a rainforest — potential side effects from malaria pills, the poor condition of the field and large numbers of British men wearing capri pants. Of course, there are always things to worry about at a World Cup match played in a rain forest: Potential side effects from malaria pills. The poor condition of the field. Large numbers of British men wearing capri pants.
But even if the field is patchy, there are benefits. At least it will be free of vampire catfish.But even if the field is patchy, there are benefits. At least it will be free of vampire catfish.