FIFA World Cup 2026: For England, the air's thin and tension stifling ahead of Azteca showdown

If music be the food of love, play on. For England fans, three decades of the Euro 1996 ‘Three Lions’ ditty has brought its share of rollercoaster emotions, from the lofty to the pathetic.

But 60 years of hurt never stopped the delusions of grandeur.“ It’s coming home ,” right? Well, laugh and let dreams die.

The fantasies may have been revived by Harry Kane’s rescue act against DR Congo, but it could have changed had Yoane Wissa found the net, instead of the post, before half-time. It is always about the fine margins, ain’t it?Elsewhere, two fallen European giants have left North America short of conviction, haunted by penalties.

Mighty France showed that time is not out of joint, while the irrepressible Mr Braut Haaland broke Ivory Coast hearts at deadline time.Les Elephants will struggle to shake off that Texan memory. The Lions of Teranga, meanwhile, were evicted after a wild game against Belgium, shackled late and felled by what may yet be remembered as a VAR faux pas. The Round of 32 had begun with the chloroform match between South Africa and Canada, spectators woken only by the co-hosts’ injury-time decider.

So Africa, the toast of the group stage with nine of a possible 10 knockout slots, has suffered the sharpest heartbreak in clutch time. Les Leopards, too, were undone by Kane’s late strike and the narrative returned to the traditional script.Speaking of tradition, one-hit wonders England will recall that their last World Cup outing at the Azteca was foiled by the hand and feet of God. Watching from applauding distance was Gary Lineker, now toppled from the top of the English World Cup goal charts.

In his flamboyant podcast-host avatar, he has watched Kane — him of the dour demeanour — stride past him. Ever ready with a wink, Lineker points out that England’s last World Cup meeting with Mexico came in the 1966 group stage, a harbinger of football paradise.It is also only the second instance of England winning a World Cup match after going 1-0 down, the other being the 1966 final against Germany. Thanks, Opta.

Teetotaller Harry, who ends a night with a very English cuppa, might be tempted by a mug of the finest beer, like his mates at Bayern.

But he will keep his feet on terra firma in Atlanta, knowing there is a mountain to climb: 7,200 feet above sea level in Mexico City on July 5. He had his “hero moment” in the birthplace of Martin Luther King, the belief streaming from a winning moment of balance, placement and power.Released by Arsenal at eight for being “too slow, too small”, Kane grafted his way up, fashioning himself on Cristiano Ronaldo. After finding his calling crosstown at Tottenham, the 6ft 3in predator led his country to the last two Euro finals, only to fall short.

His move to Bayern last summer has taken him to another level, and to trophies: 72 goals in 62 games for England and Bayern in all competitions since Aug 2025. But England need more than their captain’s finishing, or Jude Bellingham’s brilliance, to progress.Stats will tell you England can afford to dream. And while Thomas Tuchel, the only German not ready to go home, was brave and urgent with his substitutes on Wednesday, he still cannot find the right balance.

The midfield lacks cohesion and the uncertainty in defence is amplified by his right-back chaos. Tuchel went for harmony in selection but the glaring exclusions may come back to haunt him.Just like the ghosts of Azteca.Mexico are on a 9-game unbeaten streak in World Cup matches in their capital. They have won 69 of 88 competitive matches there, drawn 17 and lost twice. In the last four, they have not conceded. Good for England that they will not play a low block.

But Quinones, Jimenez and the rest will be eyeing the elusive “ quinto partido (5th match)”, where El Tri will move to the beat of a classic ranchera: “ Pero sigo siendo el rey (I continue being king).

”England’s script has so far unfolded in rain and air-conditioned stadiums. Now they need serious altitude attitude to breathe again: endurance, composure and lungs capable of coping with the thin air. When Kane & Co. serenaded the crowd after the DR Congo game, the chorus of a familiar Oasis number drifted through the stadium: “ Maybe, I said maybe / You’re gonna be the one that saves me / And after all / You’re my wonderwall.

”Maybe, they said maybe