England fighting history as well as Mexican nation in Azteca cauldron
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- England face Mexico at the Azteca Stadium (7,220ft altitude) in the World Cup last-16 on Monday 6 July (01:00 BST), arriving only on Friday after playing in the climate-controlled U.S. venues of Dallas, Atlanta, Boston and New Jersey.
- Mexico have not conceded a goal in the World Cup and have lost only 2 of 88 competitive games at the Azteca, per the article.
- Thomas Tuchel called the Azteca 'the biggest stage' and 'a next-level setting,' saying England must 'find solutions' to the intensity and heat in his pre-match remarks at the stadium.
- Mexico beat Ecuador 2-0 in the last-32, while England needed a late Harry Kane goal to edge DR Congo 2-1, with the article noting defensive flaws in Tuchel's side.
- The Azteca holds painful history for England — Diego Maradona's Hand of God goal there in the 1986 quarter-final (Argentina won 2-1) and the 1970 quarter-final loss to West Germany after goalkeeper Gordon Banks fell ill the night before with what became known as 'Montezuma's Revenge.'
- England tried to keep their Mexico City hotel secret after hundreds of Mexico fans surrounded Ecuador's base with car horns and loudspeakers, but supporters descended on England's hotel regardless, prompting a heavy security presence.
- Televisa reporter Gibran Araige Rodriguez called it 'the most important football game in the life of Mexico,' noting Mexico haven't reached the World Cup quarter-finals in 40 years.
Why it matters: Mexico's zero goals conceded and 86-win home record at the Azteca meet an England side that needed a late Harry Kane goal to beat DR Congo and showed defensive flaws. Add the 7,220ft altitude after England's climate-controlled U.S. venues, and the physical and tactical margins for Thomas Tuchel's team are razor-thin.
