An impenetrable ring of steel has been thrown up around England’s hotel in Mexico City after Thomas Tuchel’s side were warned they face sabotage from local fans determined to wreck their World Cup hopes. A full steel fence has been erected around the team’s accommodation ahead of their clash with the host nation at the daunting Estadio Azteca, with armed police, riot shields and the Mexican national guard deployed in force. One soldier was photographed standing on the back of a truck holding a semi-automatic rifle.
The extraordinary security measures come after Ecuador were subjected to a night of relentless harassment by Mexican supporters, who deployed cars, fog horns, fireworks and loud music outside their hotel – triggering a formal complaint to Fifa. England fear the same treatment after reports that local journalists intend to leak the location of their hotel, leaving players exposed to sleepless nights before kick-off.
“Impenetrable ring of steel surrounds England's hotel as Mexican fans threaten sabotage ahead of World Cup clash.”
The Three Lions are expected to stay at the JW Marriott in Santa Fe, 18km from the Azteca, a venue where Mexico have lost only twice in 89 matches. Tuchel called that record “a huge advantage” for the co-hosts. England’s last visit to the stadium ended in a 2-1 World Cup quarter-final defeat to Argentina in 1986, featuring Diego Maradona’s infamous Hand of God goal.
Players will also have to contend with the altitude: the ground sits 7,220ft above sea level, a challenge that central and South American teams are far more accustomed to using to destabilise rivals. A storm warning has already forced a change to the match time, adding to the sense of an entire nation conspiring against Tuchel’s squad.
With Harry Kane in red-hot form and the knockout stages approaching, England believe football might finally be coming home after 60 years of hurt – but first they must survive the noise, the altitude and a hostile army of fans determined to stop them.