Mexico chase another slice of World Cup history as England return to the Azteca

MEXICO CITY, July 3 : Mexico will bid to continue their remarkable World Cup run when they face England in the last 16 on Sunday, with Javier Aguirre's side standing one victory away from a first quarter-final appearance in 40 years.

The co-hosts have emerged as one of the tournament's surprise packages, winning all four matches without conceding a goal - a feat achieved previously by only two teams at a World Cup after four games, Brazil in 1986 and Italy in 1990.

A commanding 2-0 win over Ecuador at the Azteca Stadium delivered Mexico's first World Cup knockout triumph since 1986, with a scintillating first-half display many local observers hailed as one of the finest in the national team's history.

Standing in Mexico's way are England, who survived a scare against DR Congo thanks to Harry Kane's late double in a 2-1 comeback victory after Thomas Tuchel's side fell behind. They head to the Azteca with little time to prepare for Mexico City's 2,200-metre (7,220-foot) altitude, a factor Tuchel has acknowledged gives the co-hosts a significant advantage.

AZTECA TEST

Mexico, by contrast, have been based in the capital throughout the tournament and have played three of their four matches at the Azteca, where a raucous home crowd transformed the stadium into a cauldron during the victory over Ecuador.

Sunday's match will also be the last World Cup fixture at the iconic venue before the tournament moves to the United States.

England have not played a competitive match at the Azteca since their 2-1 quarter-final defeat by eventual champions Argentina in 1986, when Diego Maradona produced both the infamous "Hand of God" goal and his dazzling solo effort later dubbed the "Goal of the Century".

STOPPING KANE

If England must overcome the