Hollywood couldn’t have written this any better if it tried. England will face Mexico in the Round of 16 on Sunday night at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, pitting two powerhouses looking to rewrite history. But first, England had to get there, and it did so in dramatic fashion. The Brits trailed the Democratic Republic of the Congo 1-0 late in the game on Wednesday in Atlanta. As the clock ticked past the 70th minute, desperation set in for England as Congo eyed the impossible.
Enter Harry Kane.
The 32-year-old and Ballon d’Or favorite carved the stingy Congo defense to find the back of the net in the 75th minute to tie the match. A mere 11 minutes later, Kane took a pass inside the box, beautifully maneuvered the ball around three Congo defenders, and slipped a shot just past the goalkeeper’s fingertips to help England complete the stunning rally.
With the win, England returns to Estadio Azteca on Sunday for the first time since June 22, 1986, an infamous date for England and the date of arguably the most controversial game in World Cup history, thanks to “The Hand of God.” England fans need no reminder that Diego Maradona’s controversial goal and subsequent breakaway goal helped Argentina win the quarterfinals before ultimately winning the World Cup.
But as England hopes to write a new World Cup chapter, a streaking Mexico awaits.
El Tri counters England’s Kane with the likes of Julián Quiñones, Raúl Jiménez, and 17-year-old phenom Gilberto Mora, the second-youngest player to start a World Cup knockout match. Brazil’s Pelé was 20 days younger in 1958. The trio was instrumental in helping Mexico break a 40-year curse with a knockout stage win on Tuesday night against Ecuador.
Is England ready for all the noise?
Ahead of the Mexico-Ecuador game, England fans were already dreading the possibility of having to face Mexico in the Round of 16. That’s because they saw all the videos circulating on social media showing thousands of Mexico fans gathering just outside the hotel where Ecuador was staying.
Some 24 hours before its crucial match against El Tri, Ecuador got little to no sleep, with fans below them partying, dancing, shouting, banging drums, honking horns, and setting off July 4-style fireworks.
England fans are already trembling.
“Now, if there’s one country you don’t wanna face in this World Cup, Mexico in their own city,” said one English social media influencer.
Another added, “England fans, I am terrified of playing Mexico in the Azteca Stadium.”
“Mexicans are crazy,” one social media influencer said to start his video before showing scenes outside of Ecuador’s hotel in Mexico City. “I want Mexico to win … but if that means England has to go to Mexico and go through that … this is like the home advantage of home advantages. England going to Mexico City, playing at the Azteca with all of those Mexican fans. Yeah, this is outrageous. It’s kind of hilarious, but I really don’t want it for England.”
Mexico and England square off in the Round of 16 on Sunday, July 5, at 8 p.m. EST.
