"Let's experience it in advance like Korea" — Spain also holds evaluation match at 2,135m highland... Barcelona star says, "Breathing is harder than usual"

*This content was translated by AI.

Players of the Spain national football team revealed the difficulties of adapting to high-altitude conditions after their victory over Peru.

Spain, ranked second in the FIFA rankings, defeated Peru (ranked 51st) 3-1 in an evaluation match held on the 9th (Korea time) at Estadio Cuauhtémoc in Puebla, Mexico.

Football specialist outlet Biscuer reported that day, "Spain national team midfielder Pedri (Barcelona) revealed the difficulties of adapting to high-altitude conditions after the victory over Peru."

Spain played against Peru in Puebla, a rugged highland at an altitude of 2,135 meters. The outlet stated, "The unfamiliar high-altitude environment was not an easy test for the Spain national team, and the players struggled somewhat in the early stages of the match."

Spain chose the highland as the venue for the evaluation match, similar to the case of the South Korea national team led by coach Hong Myung-bo. This is a pre-adaptation measure in preparation for the 2026 North American World Cup group stage schedule. Spain, grouped in Group H with Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, and Uruguay, will play its first and second matches in Atlanta, USA, and must play its third match in Guadalajara, Mexico, a representative highland of this tournament. The intention is to control in advance variables that may occur in actual matches, such as physical decline due to altitude changes and reduced air resistance.

Pedri, who scored Spain's second goal that day, also felt this. In an interview with Spanish broadcaster RTVE, Pedri confessed, "I definitely felt the altitude during the warm-up. At first, I was breathing a bit more heavily than usual."

Pedri passed the ball to Ferran Torres for his goal. He explained, "When Ferran plays on the wing, his preferred position, he delivers excellent crosses and clean kicks. I knew that if I made a run, he would create a perfect chance. I just had to put my foot to the ball."

He then added, "I will not shy away from the fact that Spain is considered a favorite to win the championship. We know we are a top-level team, but ultimately, we must prove it on the pitch."

Spain took the lead early that day. In the second minute of the first half, Mikel Oyarzabal's left-footed mid-range shot from the front of the penalty area found the back of the net for the opening goal. Then, in the 32nd minute of the first half, Pedri, who rushed into the box from a cross delivered by Ferran Torres from the right, scored an additional goal with a left-footed push.

In the eighth minute of the second half, a lucky goal also occurred. A cross delivered by Yeremy Pino from the right side of the penalty area was attempted to be cleared by Peru goalkeeper Pedro Gallese, but it deflected and resulted in an own goal.

Peru, trailing 0-3, managed to avoid a winless record when Hairo Velasquez broke through the Spain defense in the 21st minute of the second half and scored with a left-footed shot.

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*This content was translated by AI.