England return to the Azteca Stadium for the first time in 40 years as they take on co-hosts Mexico in the last 16 of the World Cup. The Three Lions have a storied history at this iconic venue, with matches spanning from 1969 to 1986. Here is a look back at those encounters.
England v Mexico – 1 June 1969
The then world champions paid their first visit to the Azteca in 1969 during an end-of-season tour ahead of the World Cup the following summer. A crowd of 105,000 were treated to a drab 0-0 draw, which kicked off in stifling midday heat. Exhausted England players left the pitch at the end of the game.
England v Italy – 6 June 1985
England travelled to Mexico in 1985 to take part in the 'Aztec 2000' tournament alongside Mexico and West Germany. Confusingly, they participated in a concurrent tournament featuring Italy under the guise of the 'Ciudad de México Cup'. England lost the game 2-1, thanks to a controversial late penalty by Alessandro Altobelli in front a sparse crowd of just 8,000.
England v Mexico – 9 June 1985
Coming off the back of a loss to Italy, England struggled to contain an exciting Mexico side, slumping to a 1-0 defeat, heaping more pressure on the under-fire manager Bobby Robson.
England v West Germany – 12 June 1985
England took on West Germany in another mid-afternoon kick-off in the blistering sun of Mexico City. Despite the heat, England played the West Germans off the park but Franz Beckenbauer's men would fare better the next summer, reaching the World Cup final in the same stadium. The England manager Bobby Robson chatted to his West Germany counterpart Franz Beckenbauer after England cruised to a 3-0 victory over their great rivals, with goals from Bryan Robson and Kerry Dixon.
England v Paraguay – 18 June 1986
England struggled through their group at the 1986 World Cup, losing to Portugal, drawing with Morocco and beating Poland to set up a last-16 tie against Paraguay. Gary Lineker scored twice in the Azteca against the South American side on his way to the Golden Boot. England celebrated at full time as goals from Gary Lineker and Peter Beardsley helped the Three Lions see off their South American opponents and set up a tantalising quarter-final against Argentina and Diego Maradona.
England v Argentina – 22 June 1986
England and Argentina came into the Azteca cauldron in front of 114,000 fans for their quarter-final of the 1986 World Cup. The game kicked off at noon in energy-sapping heat. England and Argentina fans posed together outside the stadium before the game. José Luis Brown tangled with Terry Butcher in a first half epitomised by hard tackles and cagey play. Despite a lack of goals, Diego Maradona began to assert his dominance as the first half progressed.
The Hand of God moment occurred when Maradona chased a miscued Steve Hodge clearance to reach the ball ahead of Peter Shilton to put Argentina in front. Despite the entire stadium seemingly aware of the handball, referee Ali Bin Nasser awarded the goal. Maradona later reflected on his goal: 'I knew it was my hand. It wasn't my plan but the action happened so fast.' The England fans in the stands cheered on the team, despite going a goal down.
Diego Maradona went from the ridiculous to the sublime in four second-half minutes. Picking up the ball in his own half, he slalomed past four defenders and calmly slotted past Peter Shilton to score one of the greatest goals of all time. Gary Lineker pulled a goal back for England late in the game but Argentina hung on for a famous victory. England's manager Bobby Robson spoke at full time on Maradona's handball: 'It wasn't the hand of God, it was the hand of a rascal. God had nothing to do with it.' Glenn Hoddle, Gary Lineker and Terry Fenwick trudged off the pitch at full time.
