A few more from people who\u2019ve seen some of the historic games mentioned below.<\/p>\n
Brian Draper: \u201cA quick question re superstition protocol tonight. The last time England were at the Azteca for a World Cup<\/a> game 40 years ago, I was a spotty 17-year-old watching at a mate\u2019s house over the road. I\u2019ve just realised I\u2019ve been in constant WhatsApp contact with said mate Chris during this tournament, after all these years, and our proximity tonight, albeit on-line, could prove very bad luck for the boys. Just wanted to alert anyone else who may need to avoid any similar pitfalls which reach us back to the hand of God in 1986. Break the link!\u201d<\/p>\n Lawrence Whyte: \u201cWhile I did not see the England<\/a> Mexico game in 1959 I remember my granddad being disappointed. Same granddad took me to the final at Wembley in 1966 – what a day! Fast forward 20 years and I took my 6 year old son to Mexico City and we watched Diego Maradona\u2019s hand of God goal right in front of us. Now with 2 sons I was also at the game where Beckham fouled Simeone and got sent off. Now living in the US I saw the England v Croatia game with my now 3 children. Sadly tickets are just too expensive to see any more games live. It\u2019s been a thrill watching England all these years and will watch tonight\u2019s game at the Azteca with baited breath.\u201d<\/p>\n Daniel Jeffreys: \u201cI was alive for all of those 50s and 60s Mexico<\/a> games and especially remember the 2-0 victory at Wembley in 1966. I recall that the black and white TV transmission made the Mexican team look very sinister in what appeared to be an all black kit. There was much relief when Charlton banged in the first goal from distance after England\u2019s first error to reach the net was disallowed. Maybe Kane can channel Charlton in the Azteca tonight.<\/p>\n \u201cOne evening, months after England had won the World Cup, Bristol Rovers Supporters Club showed a film at the old Eastville Stadium of England\u2019s 1966 journey including the final in full. I was 11 and me and my mate Phillip Cross snuck out onto the darkened field while the adults watched the Wembley triumph in reverence. With a frayed tennis ball me and Phil re-enacted the wins over Mexico, Argentina, Portugal, and West Germany on the old Eastville pitch, recreating every shot and goal \u2013 including the disputed England one under the crossbar \u2013 until we got caught by a watchman who, hearing what we were doing, let us carry on and stayed to watch our shadow play with the looming gasometers (Up the Gas!) as our backdrop.<\/p>\n \u201cBack then footballers like Hurst and Styles and Banks could be created from intense matches with tennis balls on wet asphalt playgrounds. Maybe we have lost that culture and perhaps that\u2019s why we are still waiting to win a second star. And maybe what we also need is more of the analog imagination that had me and Phillip Cross feeling like we were playing in sunlight before 100,000 under the dismal Eastville skies.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Storm delay mailbag<\/p>\n Nicholas Way: \u201cSo we have Konsa and Quansah? That\u2019s not at all confusing, is it?\u201d<\/p>\n Ever seen a basketball game with twins on the same team?<\/p>\n Paul Griffin: \u201cAs an Englishman I started to worry about this might not a good night for us, so I decided to watch the Guardian\u2019s coverage of the Tour de France as a distraction. Now I am much more confident and don\u2019t see any harbingers of Mexicans triumphing over Europeans at altitude.\u201d<\/p>\n Tim Stappard: \u201cLet\u2019s stop already with the altitude excuses. Please.\u201d<\/p>\n I\u2019m not English, so I\u2019ll plead \u2026 on whatever amendment to the Constitution I can plead.<\/p>\n Vlado: \u201cHi Beau! I\u2019m a neutral here so I don\u2019t really know which team to pick. England<\/a> are, let\u2019s be charitable, not quite the neutrals\u2019 favorites across the globe, though this England team are hardly the Galactic Empire. Mexico, on the other hand \u2013 do they count as lovable underdogs? I\u2019m not really feeling the Cape Verde vibe. Any advice on who to cheer on their way to being cheerfully crushed by Erling Haaland?\u201d<\/p>\n Mary Waltz: \u201cFIFA and Trump are identical twins. Rules and ethics are for losers. I am an American and I want the USMNT to win. I thought it was a red. But don\u2019t confuse Trump\u2019s corruption with most Americans.\u201d<\/p>\n Have the USA surrendered their lovable underdog status with the political currents swirling around the Balogun reinstatement?<\/p>\n Mac Millings: \u201cConsidering all the talk surrounding how high Mexico<\/a> City is, what better time than this to present my All-Time Elevation XI? Breathless Sealey, Johnny Heightinga, Peako Lopes, Elevasean Dyche, Luwheeze Figo, Andes Townsend, Mason Mountain, Alex Oxygen Chamber-lain, Jozy Altitude, Brahimalayas D\u00edaz, Shane Lung.\u201d<\/p>\n Tim Highward, maybe?<\/p>\n Thomas Preston: \u201cI was just wondering if anyone had an idea about how many fans in England are actually going to stay up and watch the match live. And what the threshold is in order to please the footballing Gods and secure the win?\u201d<\/p>\n US fans packed bars in the overnight hours in 2002. Seemed to help.<\/p>\n Peter Oh: \u201cWith the winds of the World Cup<\/a> having swept the England team from their base to a colorful stadium in another land, I can\u2019t help but wonder what their main character will say upon arrival. \u2018Tuchel, I have a feeling we\u2019re not in Kansas City anymore!\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Kickoff delayed one hour<\/p>\n Will update with any further news.<\/p>\n The match is delayed an hour. Photograph: Jos\u00e9 M\u00e9ndez\/EPAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a019.42 EDT<\/p>\n Lineups<\/p>\n England (4-2-3-1): Pickford; O\u2019Reilly, Gu\u00e9hi, Konsa, Quansah; Rice, Anderson; Gordon, Bellingham, Saka; Kane<\/p>\n Subs: D. Henderson, Trafford, Stones, Spence, James, Burn, Chabolah, Madueke, Rashford, Rogers, J. Henderson, Mainoo, Eze, Watkins, Toney<\/p>\n Mexico (4-3-3): Rangel; Gallardo, Montes, V\u00e1squez, S\u00e1nchez; Romo, Lira, Mora; Qui\u00f1ones, Jim\u00e9nez, Alvarado<\/p>\n Subs: Acevedo, Ochoa, Alvarez, Reyes, M. Ch\u00e1vez, Fidalgo, Pineda, Vargas, L. Ch\u00e1vez, Guti\u00e9rrez, Vega, Gim\u00e9nez, Gonz\u00e1lez, Huerta, Mart\u00ednez<\/p>\n For England, Quansah is once again available (see below) and replaces Spence. The others changes from the starting XI against DR Congo are on the wings \u2013 Gordon for Rashford on the left, Saka for Madueke on the right.<\/p>\n Mexico make no changes from the side that beat Ecuador 2-0.<\/p>\n Morgan Rogers and Jude Bellingham arrive at the stadium. Photograph: Julian Finney\/FIFA\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a019.00 EDT<\/p>\n England have now arrived at the stadium! Boos ring out inside this extraordinary bowl as Tuchel, Kane & Co are pictured on the big screen getting off the team bus.<\/p>\n Mexico are here now. Their team bus arrives to plumes of green smoke. Excitement is rising fast!<\/p>\n The England team bus arrives at the stadium. Photograph: James Manning\/PAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a018.43 EDT<\/p>\n Head to head<\/p>\n Mexico won their first matchup against England<\/a>. If you were alive to see it, I\u2019d love to hear from you. It was in 1959.<\/p>\n England took emphatic revenge two years later with an 8-0 win. Next up was a World Cup<\/a> matchup in 1966, and England won 2-0 en route to its only World Cup championship.<\/p>\n Mexico got results in the next two infrequent matchups \u2013 0-0 in 1969, 1-0 in 1985 (see previous post). Since then, England have won four straight, all by at least two goals.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a019.04 EDT<\/p>\n Preamble<\/p>\n There\u2019s a scene from an old episode of Family Guy positing a Rocky film sometime in the future, in which Adrian pleads with Rocky once again not to put himself in harm\u2019s way in the ring.<\/p>\n \u201cRocky, please don\u2019t go to Mars and fight the Martian.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI gotta do what I gotta do.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut there\u2019s no oxygen on Mars!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah? That means there\u2019s no oxygen for him, either.\u201d<\/p>\n Insert England<\/a> into the Rocky role here. They\u2019re going into one of world football\u2019s most legendary cauldrons, the Azteca – I mean, Mexico City Stadium.<\/p>\n Consider this: The highest point in England is Scafell Pike in Cumbria. The elevation is 978 meters, or 3,209 feet. It does not have a soccer field.<\/p>\n The Az- … Mexico<\/a> City Stadium is at 2,240 meters, or 7,350 feet.<\/p>\n Compounding the problem is the heat. Like the Bird\u2019s Nest in Beijing, site of the first hydration break in a major soccer event (the 2008 Olympics, in which Argentina defeated Nigeria 1-0 on an \u00c1ngel Di Mar\u00eda goal set up by some prospect named Lionel something), the stadium just traps heat.<\/p>\n In other words, this may be the only stadium in the world in which the best preparation is to read the instructions for baking in a convection oven at altitude.<\/p>\n The good news today is that it\u2019s not particularly hot. The bad news is that thunderstorms and rain showers are blowing through. So instead of a convection oven, maybe it\u2019s more of a soup bowl.<\/p>\n For those of a certain age, England visiting Mexico City isn\u2019t a novelty. The world champions turned up in long sleeves to eke out a 0-0 draw in 1969. England returned in 1985 for losses to Italy and Mexico but then beat West Germany 3-1.<\/p>\n In 1986, England beat Paraguay in Mexico City but had a second game against the multiple limbs of Diego Maradona that didn\u2019t go as well.<\/p>\n David Pleat shared his memories of that one.<\/p>\n Mexico aren\u2019t invincible in their home stadium. The USA have had some success in the past 30 years, starting with a draw in 1998 World Cup<\/a> qualification and continuing with a friendly win in 2012. The teams drew in their showdowns in the last three qualification cycles. They\u2019ve also lost qualifiers to Costa Rica and Honduras.<\/p>\n More worryingly for England is that Mexico have simply been better at this World Cup. England drew with Ghana and labored past DR Congo. Mexico have won three of four games by two or more goals.<\/p>\n Still, on paper, England have the more talented side. If you look at estimated transfer values at Fotmob, 21 players on England\u2019s side<\/a> are valued higher than the top player in the Mexican squad<\/a>.<\/p>\n But this World Cup has been tossing aside talented teams like red cards to US players. (Too soon?)<\/p>\n Basically, you can make a strong case for either team to lose here. But one of them won\u2019t. And that team won\u2019t be facing Brazil, though you could argue that facing Haaland is worse.<\/p>\n Mexico fans arrive early. Photograph: Daniel Becerril\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a018.23 EDT<\/p>\n Norway to play winners of Mexico v England<\/p>\n They\u2019ve done it! Two Erling Haaland goals have put Norway into the quarter-finals for the first time. Neymar\u2019s late penalty too little too late.<\/p>\n And with that I\u2019ll hand you over to Beau Dure for the main event.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Arrival of teams put on hold It has just been announced that the arrival of the teams at the stadium has been put on hold. So, maybe we won\u2019t be fine ….<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n And another! Norway are heading through. There\u2019s gonna be a lot of rowing routines on the floors of New York bars tonight.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n And there\u2019s been a goal in New Jersey, and you\u2019ll never guess who got it:<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Rain easing off in Mexico 3.38pm local time\/10.38 BST, 5.38pm ET: The rain has massively eased off. Still a bit of thunder to be heard. But feels like we should be OK. (Please read usual disclaimer).<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Today\u2019s other big World Cup<\/a> story: you know how we were all saying how Donald Trump had been mercifully invisible at this tournament \u2026<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n At the moment there are no suggestions the kick-off will be delayed, although play cannot begin until 30 minutes has passed since lightning was detected within an eight-mile radius.<\/p>\n \u201cPerhaps the Carpenters had it right when they wrote Rainy Days and Mondays,\u201d writes Samuel Dodson, \u201cgiven the scheduled start time of this match is supposed to be the way those of us in the UK kick off the working week \u2013 but all this talk of thunder and lightning is, to quote Queen, very very frightening. What are the chances this storm pulls a Barbra Streisand and rains on our parades and postpones the match?<\/p>\n \u201cAnd if it is postponed, what advice do you have for those brave enough to venture to the pub in the early hours who may be faced twiddling their thumbs \u2013 other than, of course, brainstorming inevitable weather-based football pun headlines? (Although here\u2019s hoping a Hurri-kane force blows this Mexico<\/a> team away).\u201d<\/p>\n Pubs can technically only stay open till 5am BST, so a delayed kick-off could mean they\u2019re turfing out well lubricated punters just as extra-time\u2019s about to start.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Queiroz quits as Ghana head coach. Bad news for bus-parking fans, with Carlos Queiroz announcing on Sunday he was leaving his job as Ghana coach after they were eliminated from the World Cup<\/a> at the last-32 stage, AFP reports.<\/p>\n The much-travelled Quieroz, who coached Iran at the last World Cup in Qatar, said: \u201cI leave this journey with pride in what we achieved, but also with the healthy dissatisfaction of those who always wanted more.\u201d<\/p>\n Queiroz urged Ghana to push forward in the future, saying: \u201cThe future of the Black Stars will not be built only on the pitch.\u201d<\/p>\n The former Real Madrid coach and Manchester United assistant coach added: \u201cReaching a higher level should never be the destination \u2013 it should be the beginning of even greater ambitions.<\/p>\n \u201cBlack Stars success must start off the field, by creating the best possible environment to prepare, protect and develop Ghana\u2019s extraordinary football talent.\u201d<\/p>\n Quieroz was only appointed in April when Otto Addo was dismissed.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n In other parts of the World Cup-verse \u2026 chances, including a penalty, are being missed, and no goals have been scored. Tom Lutz is at the helm for Brazil v Norway.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>England team latest Jarell Quansah is expected to start for England at right-back after recovering from a twisted ankle. Djed Spence has a sore calf and is not ready to start, but should be in the squad. Reece James has missed the last two games with a hamstring issue. <\/p>\n Right-back is the big problem position for Thomas Tuchel although he has issues in other areas. Who to play on the wings? None of the wide players have convinced. This time it\u2019s expected to be Bukayo Saka and Anthony Gordon who get the nod.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Stormy preamble![\"David](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/David_Hytner,_L.png\")
David Hytner<\/p>\nDavid Hytner<\/p>\nDavid Hytner<\/p>\n![\"Jacob](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1783294991_547_Jacob-Steinberg,-L.png\")
Jacob Steinberg<\/p>\nDavid Hytner<\/p>\n