Obviously it isn't as high up as Azteca, but our NT will have a full week to prepare for playing at 4,450 ft. While it isn't a mile up, it certainly cannot be ignored. Is this going to make a difference come saturday?
Well... the effect of altitude is not like a sliding scale with height, so altitude sickness won't be a factor here. It may have some effect as like you say the height isn't negligible. It's worth pointing out there will be higher stadiumns in the coming World Cup (infact a lot of the 2010 stadiums are at approximately this height).
yes, it could be a factor. after about 60-70 minutes your legs become very heavy and its much more difficult to breath, especially if you have lived and trained at sea level for some time. when i go home to visit my parents and i play pick up games with friends i get tired after 30 minutes of hard playing (im only 24). i lived in salt lake city for 20 years, portland for the last 4+, altitude does play a role.
I would be surprised to see El Salvador use much energy early. They will likely sit back (bunker) for the first 60-70 minutes with an occasional counter attack unless we score a couple early and then it probably doesn't matter what they do or how they feel any way.
3-0 USA. Mexico loses to CR. HON beats TT 1-0. USA in 2nd place, 4 points up from 4th with 9 points remaining.
I recently moved up to Rexburg, Idaho(3500 ft.) from Natchitoches, Louisiana(30 ft.) and joined a soccer team up hear and I was huffing and puffing for about a week and a half. spoiler, I'm not a world class athlete. I would say our guys are going to be fine. They seemed fine last time they played in Salt Lake City and they played at Rice-Eccles which is even higher than Rio Tinto although not by much.
Bluecat, I'm looking at 79F, partly cloudy, only 20pct chance of rain for Sandy, Utah this Saturday. ??? Regardless, this far out, the forecast is likely to change between now and then.
One or two. Charlie Davies and possibly Kyle Beckerman. Casey, Torres and Findley probably won't start, may not even play. El Salvador? Probably two. It's not really an advantage.
I know it isn't huge, but we get a full week at this altitude to train, so we will adjust by game time. After all of the azteca stuff, I figured it was worth mentioning.
The Salvadoran captain thought the altitude factor worthy of note: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=672544&sec=us&root=us&cc=5901
is the USMNT training in park city or down in the valley? a full week training in park city at 7000' would be significant. those of you that think there is no advantage of having this game at 4500' are crazy, i cant tell you how many reports i have read about athletes coming to salt lake to play sports (nba, soccer, football, olympics, etc etc etc) and talking about how they get tired after an hour of strenuous activity. you may not feel tired for the first half, but once you sit down at half time and then come back out for the second half your legs start to get real heavy around 10-15 minutes. if i was bob bradley i would be up in park city training where RSL trains sometimes, every day this whole week. they have a nice field up there, then maybe train the day before in Rio Tinto to get used to the surroundings. EDIT: found out that the USMNT is practicing in park city for the game, this will help even more. if you dont have 10 days to practice at 4500 feet than you practice for 5-7 days at 7000'. very smart move.
Which it has...both weather.com and Deseret News say 88 and partly cloudy... Which is a darn sight better than the 98 we went through hiking around Arches National Park yesterday...and that's cool for Arches!