Image: BBC Sport
England face a nation’s fury and their own history at The Azteca. The Three Lions must conquer a cauldron of noise and a team that thrives on its home soil. On Wednesday, England take on Mexico in the World Cup last 16, but they’ll be battling more than just a determined opponent – they’ll be fighting the ghosts of England’s World Cup past.
For all the talk of Gareth Southgate’s side being one of the favorites to win the tournament, they’re still a team who have never won the World Cup in their history. They’ve been beaten finalists in 1966 and have reached the semifinals twice since, but the pressure of expectation is weighing heavy on their shoulders. And what’s worse, they’ll be facing a team that’s been the nemesis of English football in recent years.
The Azteca, a stadium that’s already hosting its 17th World Cup game, is a fortress that Mexico has never lost. They’ve won 7 of the 11 matches played here, drawing 2 and losing just 2. The noise will be deafening, and the crowd will be out to avenge the heartbreak of 2018 when Mexico took England to penalties in the last 16. For the players, the memory of that match will still be etched vividly in their minds.
“We know the level of expectation is high, but we also know that we have a chance to create history,” said Harry Kane, England’s captain, ahead of the game. “We’ve spoken about this all week, but the reality is that we can’t let the ghosts of the past dictate our present.” England will need to channel that confidence and determination if they’re to overcome the might of Mexico and make it to the quarterfinals.
The match kicks off at 10:00 PM local time on Wednesday, with the entire nation of Mexico expected to turn out to welcome their team to the last 16. England, meanwhile, will be hoping to draw on the lessons of history and create a new chapter in the story of their national team. Only time will tell if they’ll be able to write that chapter with success or not.
Image: BBC Sport
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