England are beginning their preparations for a massive World Cup meeting with Mexico after Harry Kane came to their rescue against DR Congo.
The captain’s double saved Thomas Tuchel’s side – and perhaps the manager’s job – after falling behind early in Atlanta, but a far tougher test is to come. The match, in Mexico City on Sunday, will provide a unique challenge with altitude and an anticipated hostile reception providing added factors for the England squad as they prepare for the Estadio Azteca – scene of Diego Maradona’s contrasting double in 1986.
The Three Lions struggled for large spells of the last 32 tie with DR Congo, but their captain held his nerve with a brilliant double to paper over the cracks of what continues to be a problem position at right-back. Tuchel may well consider changes, with Declan Rice operating at right-back in the closing stages against DR Congo – and Reece James perhaps giving them a fitness boost – while Anthony Gordon changed the game in place of Marcus Rashford on the left.
Follow all the build-up to Sunday’s exciting tie with co-hosts Mexico:
The 10 (not entirely serious…) right-back options Thomas Tuchel should consider
Four games, five right-backs, perhaps only one of them with a genuinely preferred position of right-back…
And given that Tino Livramento was in the original squad and Ben White might have been but for injury, there could have been still others.
But if Thomas Tuchel needs a sixth right-back of the World Cup for the upcoming trip to Mexico’s Azteca Stadium, who should he choose?
Allow Richard Jolly to present the options…
George Russell’s altitude guide to Mexico City
Needs tips on how to beat the altitude in Mexico City, England? F1 driver George Russell’s got you covered!
Speaking before Silverstone this weekend, he recognises the huge physical challenge that awaits the Three Lions against Mexico at the Azteca.
Mercedes’ Russell, who has competed at six F1 races in the Mexican capital with a best finish of fourth, said: “It is extremely tough. Walking on the streets you feel more out of breath than normal.
“Sleeping you feel your heart rate is elevated and you feel a bit breathless. It is going to be a huge challenge and it is a huge advantage to the home team but that is how the cookie crumbles.
“I would try and arrive as late as possible, and leave as soon as possible, because you don’t sleep that well. But for those guys running quickly around the pitch, it could have a big impact.
“I would probably say (getting there late) is the best thing. You want to go into those 90 minutes being as fresh as possible. Any extra hour you are there your body is not in as good a place.”
England’s best five penalty takers at the World Cup – and one player who probably shouldn’t take one
Here we go again. England are into the knockout rounds of a World Cup, and now the threat of penalties loom over every nerve-jangling game.
Lawrence Ostlere takes you through who should – and shouldn’t – take spot-kicks for England, if push comes to shove.
Ezri Konsa: Harry Kane is England’s Lionel Messi
England defender Ezri Konsa says Harry Kane is their version of Lionel Messi after the captain bailed them out against the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“Of course, it’s like Argentina with Messi. And we’ve got that in Harry Kane here,” he said. “We know his qualities. We know how many games he can score in.
“That’s his job. That’s what he does. He loves scoring goals, and we love watching him score goals.
“If you look at the second goal, from my angle, if you look at it, he was outside the post.
“I don’t know how he’s managed to wrap his foot around it and get it in with that much power.
“But like I’ve said before, it’s what he does. He scores goals, and it’s nothing new for us.”
England route to the final
Based on Fifa rankings (and probability), this is what England’s route to the World Cup 2026 could look like if they can get past Mexico:
Round of 16
5 July: England vs Mexico | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
Quarter-final
11 July: England vs Brazil | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
Semi-final
15 July: England vs Argentina | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
19 July: England vs Spain | MetLife Stadium, New Jersey
World Cup golden boot rankings after Harry Kane makes statement
1. Kylian Mbappe (France), 6 goals, (2 assists)
2. Lionel Messi (Argentina), 6 goals
= 3. Erling Haaland (Norway), 5 goals
= 3. Harry Kane (England), 5 goals
5. Ousmane Dembele (France), 4 goals (2 assists)
= 6. Vinicius Jr (Brazil), 4 goals (1 assist)
= 6. Ismaila Sarr (Senegal), 4 goals (1 assist)
8. Deniz Undav (Germany), 3 goals (2 assists)
= 9. Johan Manzambi (Switzerland), 3 goals (1 assist)
= 9. Cody Gakpo (Netherlands), 3 goals (1 assist)
= 9. Julian Quinones (Mexico), 3 goals (1 assist)
= 11. Jonathan David (Canada), 3 goals
= 11. Ismael Saibari (Morocco), 3 goals
= 11. Matheus Cunha (Brazil), 3 goals
= 11. Brian Brobbey (Netherlands), 3 goals
= 11. Elijah Just (New Zealand), 3 goals
= 11. Yoane Wissa (DR Congo), 3 goals
= 11. Kai Havertz (Germany), 3 goals
= 11. Folarin Balogun (USA), 3 goals
The secret to Harry Kane’s greatness – and why this World Cup is different
England’s striker, Rice said, is just “inevitable”.
Kane is as close to a guarantee as you can get. This is why the England team is almost entirely built around their captain, it’s why descriptions of “the Harry Kane team” aren’t a total exaggeration.
Thomas Tuchel relishing ‘karma’ of Azteca, 40 years on from Hand of God
Thomas Tuchel says England have the opportunity to “make peace” with the Azteca Stadium amid potential “karmic” retribution on their first return to the famous arena since the ‘Hand of God’ in 1986, despite agreeing that the altitude is an unfair “disadvantage”.
“I just love football and the old tournaments,” Tuchel said. “These pictures from Mexico, they are in St George’s Park, where we stay.
“Big pieces of history. This is a big moment to make peace with the stadium and turn things around.
“It will reward us. We will get it back. It’s karma. Karma will come back for us. We will turn it around.
“I remember of course the world cup of Maradona. Two goals against England. One that was dribbling and one that would never stand these days.
“I remember something was hanging in the centre of the Azteca and it never moved. It was like a ball hanging and the sun was so steep the shadow was always there in the middle.
“I was 13 years old and Germany played them in the final. It’s an iconic stadium. I remember the coffee table book that came from it and the pictures with all these flags and stuff. Super excited to have this match. It’s an iconic match to play against Mexico in Mexico. It will be against the whole country, the energy of the whole stadium in their country.”
