It’s just gone 1.30am in Mexico City. Is there a cacophony of noise outside the hotel? Are England’s players managing any sleep? The game kicks off at 6pm local time or, as those in the UK know, 1am BST. Here’s David Hytner’s latest report from Mexico City.
“England stepped off their seventh flight in 12 days on Friday and are about to play their fourth game in 13 days. The period was always going to be a grind; one simply to plot a course through.”
Our reporters are in Mexico City for the big one and between running 5ks to show the effects of altitude, they’ve also written some words. Let’s start with Nick Ames, who has quotes from both managers: England’s Thomas Tuchel and Mexico’s Javier Aguirre.
Jonathan Wilson was at Houston Stadium to witness 2022 semi-finalists Morocco beat Canada. Three second-half goals settled this one as Mohamed Ouahbi’s side became the first African nation to reach the World Cup quarter-finals twice.
“This wasn’t really about the new style. This was a very old-fashioned Morocco performance, dogged and dour, admirably competitive, and with the undoubted ability of the more creative players seen almost entirely in counterattacks. Whether their cagey start was by design or because they were forced into it by Canada’s ferocity, though, was unclear.”
