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England head to the fabled Azteca with the mantra of ‘no excuses’ ringing in their ears from captain Harry Kane.
The Three Lions will walk into a cauldron when they face Mexico at high altitude on Sunday night after a leg of this World Cup that has been dominated by security measures and flip-flopping over the kick-off time.
Eighty thousand will pack Mexico’s national stadium, while the FA were attempting to guard against the sort of disruptions that Ecuador suffered at their hotel on the eve of their round of 32 defeat here.
England were greeted at their temporary base by jeering home fans, while the climate will make the last-16 tie even tougher against a side that has yet to concede a goal through the tournament.
‘It’s going to be a really tough game for many different reasons,’ Kane said. ‘They’re having a great World Cup so far. Then all these other little details are going to make it even harder.
‘But from our point of view it’s another opportunity to build some momentum. We’re at that stage of the tournament now where if you get the ball rolling and things ticking as we know we can it’s the peak time to do that.
Harry Kane wants England to write their own history against Mexico at the Azteca
‘There are no excuses in a game like this. We know we might have to grind it out. We might have to find a different way to win. But that’s what the World Cup is about.’
Thomas Tuchel has discussed the idea of ‘karma’ being on England’s side for a first return since Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” in 1986.
Kane – who admitted that the squad could not do much preparation for the conditions – was not shying away from the idea that this occasion means that bit more as they attempt to set up a quarter-final with either Brazil or Norway in Miami on Saturday.
‘It’s about writing our own history,’ the 32-year-old added. ‘We know we have the chance to do something really special in a special stadium away from home.
‘That’s why you play football, it’s to have these epic games. Especially away from home where the atmosphere makes you even more hungry to prove yourself.’
With five goals from four games over the past fortnight, Kane has reached 72 goals for club and country this season – eclipsing Cristiano Ronaldo’s best and a record topped only by Lionel Messi in 2012.
If England are to go deep in this competition, Kane will be in the mix for a second Golden Boot after winning it in 2018.
‘It’s probably the best I’ve felt in my career,’ he said. ‘I made a real conscious effort at the start of this season to be even fitter, to take care of myself even more, looking at different ways to recover better.
‘You’ve seen that in the games. I’m willing to run more and do whatever it takes to help the team.
‘If you’ve got the leaders of the team, the older guys training and running like I do only helps and pushes them to do that too.’
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