England captain Harry Kane has urged his team to make ‘no excuses’ ahead of their FIFA World Cup round of 16 match against Mexico at the Estadio Azteca.
Kane described the occasion as a “peak time” to build momentum and said it was for these “epic games” that players play football.
The match, scheduled for July 6 at 5:30 AM IST, will see England face a dominant Mexican side that has not conceded a goal so far in the tournament and boasts an exceptional home record. Mexico have suffered only two competitive defeats at the Azteca since 1966, winning 70 and drawing 17 of 89 matches played there, making it one of the toughest venues in world football.
Speaking to Goal.com, Kane acknowledged the difficulty of the encounter, saying: “It is going to be a really tough game for many different reasons. First of all, Mexico are a really good team. 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. It’s kind of the peak time to do that.”
He added: “So there are no excuses in a game like this. We know it will be tough. 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. Everyone’s looking forward to the occasion, the stadium, the atmosphere, and ultimately putting yourself in those games. That is why you train like we do. That’s why you play football, it is to have these epic games.”
Kane is in impressive form in the tournament, having scored five goals so far. He is one goal shy of equalling Gary Lineker’s record of six goals, the most by an England player in FIFA World Cup knockout matches.
England will also face the challenge of playing at high altitude. The Estadio Azteca is situated approximately 7,220 feet (2,240 metres) above sea level, where thinner air affects players’ oxygen intake and causes the ball to travel faster and farther compared to lower-altitude venues such as Atlanta Stadium (312 metres above sea level), where England faced DR Congo in the round of 32.
The hostile atmosphere created by passionate Mexican fans and the aggressive playing style of their opponents will test England’s mental resilience, patience and physical fitness as they compete for a place in the quarterfinals.