England Face Azteca’s History and Hostile Passion in World Cup Last-16 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: what will unfold in the Azteca cauldron on Sunday night when England try to halt the Mexico momentum that has left the country at fever pitch. Head coach Thomas Tuchel visibly relished the occasion when he spoke at the Azteca. “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. This is a next-level setting,” he said. “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.” England arrived in Mexico on Friday evening and have had little time to adjust to the conditions at the Azteca, which stands 7,220 feet above sea level. They will face alien conditions after playing two games in temperature-controlled luxury in Dallas and Atlanta, then in the rain of Boston and New Jersey. To make matters worse, Mexico have not conceded a goal in this World Cup and have lost only two competitive matches out of 88 played at their spiritual home. The historical weight is undeniable. England's last visit to the Azteca came in the 1986 quarter-final, when Diego Maradona scored the infamous “Hand of God” goal and then a breathtaking solo effort to seal a 2-1 win for Argentina. In 1970, England’s defence of the World Cup ended in a quarter-final loss to West Germany in the searing heat of Leon, a game overshadowed by the alleged poisoning of goalkeeper Gordon Banks. The Azteca has rarely been a happy hunting ground for England, and they will need to overcome both a formidable opponent and a cauldron of noise to keep their tournament alive.