England fans are looking forward to the 'cauldron' of Mexico City after Harry Kane's two goals fueled a dramatic comeback against DR Congo, booking their place in the next stage of the World Cup. The captain saved the Three Lions with goals in the 75th and 86th minutes, after the side were booed off at half-time 1-0 down.
Next Up: Mexico at Estadio Azteca
Next up is a mouth-watering last 16 clash against Mexico in front of a frenzied home crowd at the Estadio Azteca. The omens are not good – it is the ground where Diego Maradona scored his infamous Hand of God goal in the 1986 quarter-final when England were knocked out by Argentina.
Thomas Tuchel's men were forced to dig deep to see off the 16-1 outsiders, who took the lead early on in the first half. But after an agonising spectacle in Atlanta, the 30,000 travelling England fans allowed themselves to dream again.
Fans React to the Comeback
England superfan Neal Weekes, 61, who watched the heartbreak of England's semi-final defeat in Moscow in 2018 and Harry Kane's penalty miss in Qatar, is hopeful despite the Three Lions' dismal first-half performance. He said: "How good is Harry Kane? He's saved us yet again. Just incredible." Neal, an auctioneer from Greenwich, South East London, is now heading to Mexico with his pals via a two-day stopover in Dallas. He added: "How special will it be to be in the Azteca stadium? The atmosphere will be sensational. The Mexicans will make that like a cauldron like England have never seen before."
Dave Simpson, 53, from Banbury, Oxon, said: "We have to play a hell of a lot better than that if we want to beat Mexico. But the lads stuck with it and eventually we got what we deserved. But I thought the Congo team were magnificent."
Flags and Fans in the Stadium
The stadium was full of England fans, who out-chanted the Leopards throughout. Some of them got into the stadium three hours early to secure the best places for their flags, with Rochdale, Widnes, Bristol and Sheffield all represented. The flag of one of England's most loyal fans, Brian Robson, was laid out by his friends in the stadium. Dad-of-three Brian died aged 63 just weeks before he was due to travel to the US, having followed the Three Lions for decades. His Ashington flag from his home town in Northumberland has been seen at every England match so far.
Retired civil servant David Delves, 60, of Cheltenham, Glos, said: "Kane is able. What a second goal that was. Unstoppable. I was nervous with 20 minutes to go but that was some comeback." Phil Storey, 66, of Newcastle, added: "The first was a great goal, the second was even better. Mexico here we come."
Player Support and Connections
As well as the fans, hundreds of family and friends of the players flew in for the match. Full-back Djed Spence had the support of a huge family contingent. His mum Aisha, dad Ambroise and sisters Karla-Simone – an actress who appeared in BBC series Gold Digger – and Bri all travelled to Atlanta. Spence, 25, and his Congolese opponent Aaron Wan-Bissaka, 28, both played for a youth club called Junior Elite in Beckenham, South East London. West Ham's Wan-Bissaka switched allegiance to DR Congo last year.
Alex Taylor, 25, a teacher from Newcastle, said: "I did not think we were going to make it. Credit to Congo. But King Harry did it again." Dominic Webb, 34, a software designer from Swindon, Wilts, said fans would be "dancing on the ceiling" tonight, adding: "Just buzzing." He added: "My whole trip – and it's cost thousands – has been, for me, about getting to Mexico. It's going to be a complete dream."
England's clash with Mexico is 6pm on Sunday local time, 1am on Monday back home.
