England Return to Azteca to Face Mexico, Haunted by Maradona's Ghost

England are heading back to one of football's most daunting arenas. On Sunday, Thomas Tuchel's side face co-hosts Mexico in the World Cup round of 16 at Mexico City's Azteca stadium, a venue steeped in painful memories for the Three Lions.

England arrive burdened by a string of underwhelming displays, a significant altitude challenge and the lingering ghosts of past failures on Mexican soil. Their opponents, by contrast, are riding a wave of confidence in front of an electric home crowd.

Returning to the scene of the 'Hand of God'

England have not played a competitive match at the Azteca since their 1986 quarter-final loss to Argentina, when a reported 112,000 spectators watched Diego Maradona score two of the most famous goals in football history. The first came courtesy of the notorious "Hand of God," while the second saw the Argentine star weave through the England defence in stunning fashion.

That moment was immortalised by commentator Victor Hugo Morales, who cried out, "Cosmic kite, what planet are you from that you can leave so many Englishmen in your wake?" as he wept with joy during his celebrated live call.

A bumpy road back

Four decades on, England's route to this fixture has been anything but smooth. An opening victory over Croatia was followed by a draw with Ghana, a hard-fought win against Panama and a nervous scare against DR Congo in the round of 32.

Now the Three Lions must contend with the Azteca's altitude of 2,200 metres (7,220 feet), a factor Tuchel openly admits favours the hosts. "It is maybe one of the most beautiful fixtures, the most exciting fixtures that you can have, to play against Mexico in the Azteca," the German coach said. "There will be a lot of obstacles waiting for us, not to mention the altitude will be, of course, a big disadvantage because we cannot physically adapt to it in four days. It's just impossible."

Despite the difficulties, Tuchel struck an optimistic note about a team that has yet to justify its pre-tournament billing as a favourite. "More obstacles may come, but we are ready for that," he said. "We need it. Maybe we have the ideal platform now to genuinely believe that we are ready and, when the going gets tough, that we will find the answers."

Mexico's fortress

Mexico, meanwhile, are brimming with belief. They have won their first four matches at this World Cup without conceding a single goal, a feat previously matched only by Brazil in 1986 and Italy in 1990.

A 2-0 victory over Ecuador at the Azteca secured Mexico's first World Cup knockout win in four decades, with a dazzling first-half performance praised locally as among the finest in the national team's history. Although not counted among the tournament favourites, Mexico boast a fearsome record at the stadium, having lost just twice in 89 matches there. With Sunday's clash set to be the last World Cup fixture at the venue, the hosts are eager to bow out in style.

The fervour extends well beyond the pitch. More than one million people flooded the streets of the capital after the win over Ecuador, with raucous celebrations that reportedly left at least four people dead. Ecuador had earlier lodged a complaint with FIFA, saying their players were kept awake by Mexican supporters using loudspeakers and horns outside their hotel before the match.

Fear of sleepless nights

Disturbed sleep is a familiar theme for England in Mexico. During the 1970 World Cup, local fans did their utmost to unsettle the unpopular defending champions. Food poisoning then deprived England of their talismanic goalkeeper Gordon Banks before a decisive quarter-final against West Germany, in which a dominant England squandered a 2-0 lead and lost in extra time.

Wary of a repeat, Tuchel's squad are reportedly keeping the location of their hotel secret. "We will expect that," he told reporters when asked about fans potentially keeping his players awake. "But what shall we do? We will bring stuff (like ear plugs) of course, but I expect everything."

With history, altitude and a hostile home crowd stacked against them, England face perhaps their sternest test yet. Will they finally exorcise their Azteca demons, or will Mexico's fortress claim another victim? Share your predictions and join the conversation.

Source: France 24 – English