England captain Harry Kane has instilled a "no excuses" mantra as the Three Lions prepare for their World Cup last-16 tie against Mexico at the high-altitude Azteca stadium on Sunday. The match is set against a backdrop of security concerns and fluctuating kick-off times that have dominated the tournament.
Eighty thousand fans are expected to pack Mexico's national stadium, and the English Football Association has been working to prevent disruptions similar to those experienced by Ecuador before their previous match. England players were met with jeering from home fans upon arrival at their training base, and the challenging climate is anticipated to add another layer of difficulty against a Mexican side that has yet to concede a goal in the tournament.
"It's going to be a really tough game for many different reasons," Kane stated. "They're having a great World Cup so far. Then all these other little details are going to make it even harder."
Kane acknowledged that the squad has limited ability to prepare for the extreme conditions. "But from our point of view it's another opportunity to build some momentum," he added. "We're at that stage of the tournament now where if you get the ball rolling and things ticking as we know we can it's the peak time to do that. There are no excuses in a game like this. 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."
The 32-year-old striker views the match as a chance for England to forge their own history in a significant venue. "It's about writing our own history," Kane said. "We know we have the chance to do something really special in a special stadium away from home. That's why you play football, it's to have these epic games. Especially away from home where the atmosphere makes you even more hungry to prove yourself."
With five goals in four games this tournament, Kane has reached 72 goals for club and country this season, placing him among the top scorers globally. If England advances, Kane remains a contender for a second Golden Boot award, having won it in 2018.
"It's probably the best I've felt in my career," Kane commented on his current form. "I made a real conscious effort at the start of this season to be even fitter, to take care of myself even more, looking at different ways to recover better. You've seen that in the games. I'm willing to run more and do whatever it takes to help the team. If you’ve got the leaders of the team, the older guys training and running like I do, it only helps and pushes them to do that too."