England braced for a Mexican whirlwind as Tuchel strives for calm amid the chaos

After their frantic display against DR Congo, England head coach needs his side to remain composed in the Azteca cauldron It was somehow in keeping with the bedlam that has gripped Mexico since Tuesday night when the their team beat Ecuador to set up a World Cup last-16 showdown with England on Sunday.

There was talk of an incoming storm, which is forecast to bring the risk of flooding and affect a game talked up as arguably the biggest in Mexico’s history. There was a figurative one, too.

The kick-off would have to be brought forward from 6pm local time (1am Monday BST) to midday, Fifa was told on Friday, and there followed an intense amount of back and forth, so many different people and companies to consider.

In the end, it was decided that it would have to remain at 6pm. There was a lot of energy expended for no actual change and on everybody hurtled.

Continue reading...