When England faces Mexico at the legendary Azteca Stadium for a chance to reach the World Cup quarter-finals, they’ll not only contend with the fervent spirit of a whole nation, but also with the burden of history.
The atmosphere in Mexico City was already electric more than 24 hours before the knockout clash, with massive screens set up along Paseo de la Reforma and car horns echoing throughout the historic avenue.
Everyone is talking about what awaits in the Azteca cauldron on Sunday night (Monday at 01:00 BST), as England aims to stifle the wave of excitement that has swept through Mexico.
The highly anticipated match cannot come soon enough, with vendors selling merchandise and souvenirs lining the streets of the stadium, while thunder and lightning rumbled in the background.
This sets the stage for England’s formidable challenge against a Mexico team that boasts a flawless defensive record in the tournament and has lost only two competitive matches out of the 88 played at their beloved home ground.
England arrived in Mexico on Friday evening, with little time to acclimatize to the conditions they will face at the Azteca, located 7,220 feet above sea level. After playing in the controlled environments of Dallas and Atlanta, and the rain-soaked conditions of Boston and New Jersey, they will have to adjust to the high-altitude atmosphere.
Adding to the challenge, England is stepping onto this hostile turf, acutely aware that the Azteca has not historically been kind to them.
In an effort to avoid drawing attention, England attempted to keep their location a secret after being surrounded by passionate Mexico fans, who used car horns and loud motorcycle engines to create a ruckus outside the hotel of their previous opponents, Ecuador.
However, supporters swiftly made their way to England’s accommodation upon their arrival, leading to heightened security measures.
Head coach Thomas Tuchel expressed his enthusiasm for the event and the atmosphere in Azteca, stating: “We felt the energy from the moment we arrived. The people’s excitement was palpable, and it’s a next-level setting. This is a true World Cup match in an iconic stadium where the atmosphere serves the home team.”
He underscored that Mexico will bring intensity and fervor, and that England must be prepared to face it head-on.
England’s last appearance at the Azteca is infamous for Diego Maradona’s Hand Of God goal, which gave Argentina a crucial lead in their quarter-final match, culminating in a heartbreaking 2-1 defeat for England.
Back in 1970, under Sir Alf Ramsey, England faced a series of misfortunes in Mexico while attempting to defend their World Cup title, leading to backlash from local supporters due to their decision to transport their own food, which some deemed as offensive to Mexican hospitality.
The tension escalated even before the tournament began with an incident where England captain Bobby Moore was wrongfully accused of stealing from a shop in Colombia, leaving his participation in question until he was proven innocent—with even the Prime Minister at the time offering assistance.
Ending their 1966 World Cup reign, England suffered a heart-wrenching quarter-final loss to West Germany. The match is notorious for the mysterious illness of goalkeeper Gordon Banks, who suffered from what became known as “Montezuma’s Revenge” the night before the game.
Peter Bonetti filled in for Banks but struggled during the match, leading to various conspiracy theories about the cause of Banks’ illness, with some even suggesting foul play.
The tale of past encounters adds weight to England’s upcoming challenge, especially coming off a narrow last-32 victory over DR Congo, where they only secured a 2-1 win thanks to captain Harry Kane.
While England has shown vulnerability in defense, Mexico has been on a high after delivering their most impressive offensive performance to date in a 2-0 win against Ecuador.
Every corner of Mexico City resonates with anticipation as the kickoff nears.
Reporter Gibran Araige Rodriguez from Televisa emphasized the significance of the upcoming match: “This is the most important football game in the history of Mexico and the Azteca. It’s been 40 years since Mexico reached the World Cup quarter-finals, and the entire nation dreams of replicating that success, especially against a powerhouse like England, whose stars like Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka, and Jude Bellingham are some of the best in the world.”
He concluded with optimism about the atmosphere at the Azteca, stating, “If Mexico triumphs over England, the celebration will surpass what we witnessed during the Ecuador match.”