WHEN England and the US face each other for their opening World Cup match on 12 June, expect to hear English commentators refer yet again to Diego Maradona’s infamous “hand of God” goal, which contributed to England’s defeat by Argentina in 1986. It turns out that Argentina had another advantage that year: they played every game at altitude while their rivals all had to switch (see “The altitude factor”). In South Africa it will be different, as whoever wins will have played games at sea level and at altitude. The potential for divine intervention remains unchanged.
Soccer hits the heights
Whoever wins this year's World Cup tournament will have had to grapple with the surprising difference between playing at sea level and at altitude