File it as England’s finest World Cup knockout phase victory since 1966. There have not been a huge number of them; only nine previously, each a gripping drama in its own right. Yet it was the context of this one that set it apart.
England stepped into the mayhem of the Estadio Azteca, a venue that contains a very particular ghost for them, to face the full force of the country. Plus a team that almost never lose here. Mexico brought flawless form to the showpiece; four wins out of four at the tournament. It was the co-hosts’ grand sendoff from their own turf, arguably the biggest game in their history. An unofficial final for them.
