Among the challenges England face in their last 16 World Cup tie against Mexico, the coach may be the most underrated.
The Three Lions are facing the co-hosts at their home Azteca stadium in terrifying conditions.
On top of that, they have the altitude to deal with and possible thunderstorms.
There were also music and fireworks outside their hotel trying to ruin their night’s sleep.
Yet coach Javier Aguirre may be one of their biggest hurdles.
The 67-year-old has buckets of experience in international football, as well as LaLiga with teams like Atletico Madrid and Mallorca.
Over the years he’s put on numerous touchline performances, and England will have to deal with that distraction and refereeing interference.
England’s underrated Mexico task
One official who dealt with him more than any other, Iturralde Gonzalez, recalled how he got around the challenge.
“Javier Aguirre is a nice guy, but he is a real pain in the neck,” the Spanish retired referee said.
“I remember he wouldn’t stop arguing with the fourth official in a game we played in Valladolid…
“I asked the fourth official through his earpiece to tell Aguirre he was a f***ing idiot and to shut up.
“He told him, Aguirre started laughing his head off, raised his hand at me, and sat down.”
Insisting Aguirre is one of football’s ‘good guys’ Gonzalez added more on his influence.
He finished: “He likes to manage the timing of everything.
“He likes to control the game, the crowd, the statements… he’s a phenomenon.
“That’s why he’s so fondly remembered at the clubs he’s played for. And perhaps this desire to control absolutely everything is proving key to leading Mexico to glory…”
Aguirre’s Mexico dedication
Aguirre has so much fun on the touchline that he didn’t even care about being bloodied by a can in late 2024.
Mexico lost 2-0 to Honduras in their Concacaf Nations League semi-final and was pelted with objects at full-time.
Speaking afterwards, he didn’t care, commenting: “Nothing, nothing, it’s just football.
“It’s just another game, I insist, we have to recover I fully trust my players and I hope that in Toluca we are able to turn this situation around.
“I think the game was clean, they deserved to win.”
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