England manager Thomas Tuchel has stated his intention to avenge the "Hand of God" heartache England suffered against Argentina at the Azteca Stadium, as his team prepares to face Mexico in the World Cup last 16. The match will be the first time England has played at the iconic venue since their 1986 quarter-final defeat, a game marred by Diego Maradona's infamous handball goal.
Tuchel, who was a teenager watching from Germany when the controversial incident occurred, views the upcoming match as an opportunity for karmic retribution. "It is karma - karma will come back for us!" he said. "We will turn it around. It will reward us. We will get it back!"
Images from that 1986 tournament, including Gary Lineker scoring and Peter Shilton, are displayed at England's training base at St George's Park, serving as a constant reminder of past glories and heartbreaks. Tuchel intends to use these historical touchstones as motivation.
England is scheduled to arrive in Mexico City 48 hours before Sunday's kickoff to allow for acclimatization to the altitude. "We will go one night earlier, it makes sense," Tuchel explained. "The ball will fly differently. It will fly maybe five yards more. It’s just difficult. We need the experience."
The team has consulted with other national sporting bodies, such as Team GB, for advice on managing the effects of high altitude. The recommended approach typically involves arriving either 10 days in advance or very close to match day. England's plan aims for a balance between these options.
On the injury front, Tuchel confirmed that midfielder Declan Rice is expected to be available despite experiencing hamstring pain during the recent 2-1 victory over DR Congo. "I asked him (late in the game) and he said, ‘I can do it for the team but I am in terrible pain’," Tuchel revealed. "When Declan tells you he is in terrible pain then you know he cannot take it anymore."
Rice reassured Tuchel after the match that there is no significant injury, attributing his discomfort to nerve pain. "He was just in pain and I hope he is right," the manager added. However, defenders Reece James (hamstring) and Jarell Quansah (ankle) remain doubtful for Sunday's match.