England faces history and hostile crowd in Mexico World Cup clash

England will not just be fighting against the fierce passion of an entire nation when they face Mexico in the iconic Azteca Stadium for a place in the World Cup quarter-finals — they will be battling the weight of history.

The atmosphere in Mexico City was already red hot more than 24 hours before the last-16 meeting, with giant screens erected along the length of Paseo de la Reforma and car horns blaring on the historic avenue. Only one subject is on the lips of Mexicans, and that is what will unfold in the Azteca cauldron on Sunday night (Monday 01:00 BST) when England try to halt the Mexico momentum that has left the country at fever pitch.

The game that will bring Mexico to a standstill cannot come quickly enough. Merchandise and souvenir sellers lined the streets at the Azteca on Saturday. Thunder and lightning rattled around the stadium. It all adds to the scale of England's mammoth task against a Mexico side who have not conceded a goal in the World Cup and have lost only two competitive games out of 88 played at their spiritual home.

Altitude and hostile conditions

England arrived in Mexico on Friday evening and have had little time to adjust to what will confront them at the Azteca, which stands 7,220 feet above sea level. They will face alien conditions at altitude after playing two games in the temperature-controlled luxury of Dallas and Atlanta, then in the rain of Boston and New Jersey.

If this was not enough, England are entering this hostile sporting territory knowing Mexico, and the Azteca in particular, has not been their happy place.

Security and fan presence

England had hoped to keep their location secret after hundreds of Mexico supporters surrounded the base of last-32 opponents Ecuador's base, using car horns, roaring motorcycle engines and loud hailers to create a disturbance. It was all to no avail as home fans descended on England's hotel, where there has been a huge security presence, after their arrival.

Tuchel relishes the occasion

Head coach Thomas Tuchel was visibly relishing the atmosphere and the occasion when he spoke at the Azteca, saying: "We saw the excitement and the emotions of the people when we arrived. They were emotional but also very, very respectful."

"We felt the energy of the place right away, the people on the streets. You can feel the excitement. This is a next-level setting."

"I felt straight away this would be a proper World Cup game. We are in an iconic place and an iconic stadium. It is just the biggest stage and we feel it."

He added: "Mexico will give us a taste of the intensity, the heat and we must find solutions to that."

"It will be emotional and full of support for the home team. We are at a stadium that can create an atmosphere to the advantage of the home team and create momentum and belief, but we have very experienced players."

Historical baggage

England's last visit to the Azteca acquired permanent notoriety when Diego Maradona's Hand Of God goal gave Argentina the lead in the World Cup quarter-final, adding a breathtaking second with a slalom run and finish to seal their 2-1 win. And back in 1970, Mexico was where England, under Sir Alf Ramsey, embarked on an ill-fated campaign to retain the World Cup won at Wembley four years previously.

England's decision to ship their own food to Mexico, some of which was impounded — although the fish fingers made it through — offended the locals, who pride themselves on their hospitality. Mexican supporters took against England and the austere Ramsey, expressing their displeasure by openly favouring England's opponents in every game.

And before the World Cup even started, there was the infamous incident involving England's inspirational captain Bobby Moore, who was accused of stealing a bracelet from a shop at their hotel in Bogota, Colombia. There were fears Moore could miss the start of the tournament, but he was eventually released an innocent man, with even then Prime Minister Harold Wilson coming to his aid.