Harry Kane’s late brace had barely settled when England’s reward became clear: a last-16 date with co-hosts Mexico at the Estadio Azteca, a stadium that has witnessed only two visiting victories in 18 World Cup matches. The 2-1 comeback win over DR Congo in Atlanta kept the Three Lions alive, but the next challenge carries a different weight. Mexico have won four straight World Cup games without conceding a goal, and their coach, Javier Aguirre, credits the partisan crowd as “a driving force” behind that run.
Aguirre’s side are not a vintage Mexico generation – Raul Jimenez, 35, is the biggest name and has agreed a return to Wolves from Fulham – but they defend with ruthless pragmatism. Centre-backs Johan Vasquez and Cesar Montes complement each other effectively, and the 6ft 3in Montes, who joined Lokomotiv Moscow after an unsuccessful stint in Spain, scored three times at last year’s Gold Cup. Mexico are the tournament’s fourth smallest team, yet they work tirelessly to regain possession and benefit from additional recovery time and altitude, where thinner air can sap opponents’ energy.
“England face Mexico at Estadio Azteca after Harry Kane's late brace rescued a 2-1 win over DR Congo.”
If England can cut off Mexico’s passing lanes, the home side may struggle for ideas. Despite scoring eight goals so far, they have often lacked attacking fluency under Aguirre. Hopes rest on 17-year-old Gilberto Mora, the youngest Mexican World Cup player ever and the youngest from any nation to start a knockout game since Pele in 1958. Jimenez, who failed to score at the past three World Cups, has two goals in this one and usually delivers when needed. He equalised in last year’s Gold Cup final against the United States in a 2-1 win.
England’s own defensive concerns were exposed against DR Congo, where they trailed 1-0 for most of the match. The drama elsewhere on Wednesday included Senegal’s fury after a 120th-minute penalty gave Belgium a 3-2 victory, Youri Tielemans converting the spot kick after a challenge by Lamine Camara. Senegal had led 2-0 before Romelu Lukaku and Tielemans forced extra time. But for England, the focus is solely on Mexico – a side that reached the quarter-finals the last two times they hosted, in 1970 and 1986, and are now one win from repeating that feat.