England’s best moments in Mexico

England are preparing to face co-hosts Mexico on their own turf in the Round of 16 on Monday 6 July (1am BST).

After coming from behind to beat DR Congo in what was one of England’s best comeback wins, it is the exciting prospect of Mexico at the Azteca Stadium next up for Thomas Tuchel’s side.

A tough task awaits the Three Lions against the Mexicans, who have lost just two games in their last 89 home matches. However, a victory would take England into the quarter-finals for the third successive tournament.

It would surely go down as one of our most impressive results, but it would not be the Three Lions’ first memorable moment in Mexico with the country being the scene of some of the Three Lions’ most iconic moments...

Lineker’s hat-trick v Poland (1986)

Gary Lineker (pictured above) became the first England player to win the Golden Boot with six goals, and it was largely down to his performance against Poland. More specifically, the 25-minute period where he struck a first-half hat-trick.

It took Lineker just ten minutes to open the scoring when he stabbed home from close range, before he added his second five minutes later in similar fashion - arriving in the box in the right place, at the right time.

With ten minutes to play before half time, Lineker completed his hat-trick when a corner fell to his feet at the back post and he slammed the ball home from inside the six-yard box.

His efforts earned the Three Lions a spot in the last 16, where Lineker scored a brace against Paraguay, before netting a consolation goal in 2-1 quarter-final defeat to Argentina.

Banks’ ‘Save of the Century’ v Brazil (1970)

“What a save… Gordon Banks!”

Those words will forever be associated with what has been dubbed the ‘Save of the Century’.

During the 1970 edition, England were grouped with Brazil and faced each other at the Estadio Jalisco in an electric battle between the star-studded Brazilian side and the defending champions.

Pele was one of the iconic names in the Brazil side that day, and he came close to breaking the deadlock with a header, only to be denied with a save that he said “didn't feel was possible”.

As Pele leapt to meet a cross at the back post, he diverted a strong header towards the bottom right corner and somehow, Banks’ cat-like reflexes saw him not only get to the ball, but claw it away from danger.

“I couldn't believe what I saw,” said Pele, during an interview in 2019. “Even now when I watch it l, I can't believe it.”

That was not the only memorable England moment from that game…

Moore’s ‘Tackle of the Century’ v Brazil (1970)

This game between defending champions England and Brazil was the final that never was.

Not only did it feature a world-class save from Banks, but England skipper Bobby Moore produced some masterful defending.

England launched a free-kick into the Brazil box, which was cleared by goalkeeper Félix, as Brazil hit the Three Lions on the counter-attack.

Jairzinho picked up the ball on the halfway line and drove down the right-hand side in full flight before breaking into the box. Moore stuck with him the whole way, jockeying and waiting patiently for his moment to pounce - and he did just that, with perfection.

The England No6 produced an immaculate sliding challenge to deny Jairzinho, who looked likely to threaten Banks’ goal but had the ball snatched off him in the blink of an eye.

Unfortunately for England, they fell to a 1-0 defeat thanks to Jairzinho’s goal later in the game, but both Brazil and England finished in the top two to progress to the next round.