Ivan Toney: England striker left 'dripping with sweat' by Thomas Tuchel's warm-weather training programme | OneFootball

The England manager said ‘suffering will be one of the headlines’ at the World Cup as intense heat is expected

England have begun preparations for the intense heat they will be expecting to face at next summer's World Cup.

Thomas Tuchel's squad are in Girona ahead of Saturday's qualifier with Andorra in Barcelona, choosing to prepare for the match in the 25-degree heat of Spain rather than St George's Park. While out there, they have been testing acclimatisation by riding on spin bikes in a sauna-esque setting.

Recalled striker Ivan Toney was left "dripping with sweat" in an environment not too dissimilar to the one he plays in for his Saudi Arabian club Al-Ahli.

like a sauna: Ivan TOney trains in England’s indoor gym

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Asked to describe the testing, he said: "You're on a bike. You see how far you can get, and it's to see how you manage throughout and how you cope with the conditions.

"You're literally dripping with sweat and everyone's tired. It was up there (with the Saudi Arabia heat). Yeah, I'll tell you that it was up there.

"It was tough. I don't know, who won, not me, we were in different groups. I can't remember. I was that tired.

"I wasn't looking around, just concentrating on yourself. That's what it was. Everyone's exhausted."

After picking his squad, Tuchel said he expected his players to ‘suffer’ at next summer’s World Cup, which will be hosted jointly by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

feeling the heat: thomas tuchel hopes his players will grow used to the tough conditions

The FA via Getty Images

Studies have reported that 14 of the tournament’s 16 host cities are considered too hot to play football in summer months, with many reporting average temperatures of close to 30° in June and July.

Tuchel and his staff are researching methods to keep players cool, as well as testing them for their resistance to warm-weather competition.

On the challenges of the tournament, Tuchel said: “It’s more matches to play. It’s different time zones. It’s humidity, it’s heat, it will be draining, it will be a lot of suffering and age will then play a role.

“The age of the players will play a role, but I will not leave anyone out because of age. Making sure that the players are fit will be our top priority.

“That is why it is important to see matches now in America and in Miami at three in the afternoon. How it looks and we need to understand how to cool the players down, to drink. What are our options?”

He will attend this summer’s Club World Cup to get a better idea of the conditions: “It will be very similar. The actual experience is for the players, but I have done pre-season there in Orlando and I will be very surprised if we do not suffer. Suffering is one of the headlines for this World Cup.”