With the weight of expectations on their shoulders, but in a summer when, truth be told, the “it’s coming home” slogan hasn’t really taken off, England is in Mexico to face off against the hosts of this year’s World Cup (3:00 a.m. Monday, Cyprus time), with a spot in the tournament’s quarterfinals on the line!

From the moment the “Three Lions” set foot in the host country, they’ve realized just how difficult their task will be. They were met with a hostile reception, they didn’t sleep well at all that night due to the commotion caused by the Mexicans outside their hotel, and on top of that, they have to deal with the altitude at the “Azteca.”

Of course, among the… obstacles for Tuchel’s entire team are the memories and the history of the national team’s last appearance at that stadium, since it was there that the whole world witnessed the “Hand of God” and Maradona’s solo run that captivated the world.

The Mexicans, for their part, with Quionones and Raúl Jiménez leading the team’s attacks, are trying to overcome their… demons. And so far, they’ve succeeded. After all, they secured their first World Cup knockout-round victory for the first time since 1986, and as of this year, they hold the longest winning streak ever recorded in the tournament’s knockout stage!

Four wins, no goals conceded, six wins across all competitions, and 12 matches without a loss—that’s the record of Javier Aguirre’s team, which is fully prepared for the big challenge against the “Three Lions.” And home-field advantage will play a decisive role, with the Mexican internationals constantly emphasizing how important it will be for them to feel the power of their fans in the stands to reach the quarterfinals!

At this particular stadium, Mexico has never lost a World Cup match, with 8 wins and 2 draws in their 10 most recent matches, while their unbeaten streak—regardless of whether the matches were official or not—has lasted since 2013, spanning 26 games!

Probable starting lineups:

Mexico: Rangel, Sánchez, Montes, Vázquez, Gallardo, Romo, Lira, Mora, Quíñones, Jiménez, Alvarado

England: Pickford, Konsa, Stones, Ghechi, O’Reilly, Anderson, Rice, Mandueke, Bellingham, Gordon, Kane

*photo source: AP