Declan Rice is set to face Mexico in Sunday's World Cup encounter at the Estadio Azteca. England will play at high altitude, but Rice is confident they can cope.
What's at Stake?
The match will be a tough test for England, with Mexico boasting an impressive record at the Azteca. They have lost just two of their 89 competitive matches at the ground.
The Challenge Ahead
Rice said it's "kind of going to be like an away game" for England, given Mexico's home advantage. But he's not overthinking the occasion, saying "for us, it's just a stadium".
Dealing with Altitude
The England midfielder has been dealing with neural pain in his hamstring since Christmas. He's assured manager Thomas Tuchel that he'll be fine to face Mexico, despite the "crazy" altitude in Mexico City.
Rice helped fill in at right-back in the previous match, as Tuchel juggled the absence of Reece James and Jarell Quansah. England are due to train in Mexico City on Saturday afternoon, before Tuchel and a player face the media at the Azteca.
The match is scheduled to kick off at 6pm local time, despite initial discussions about moving it to an earlier time due to weather disruption. Ezri Konsa, the England defender, seems relaxed about the task ahead, saying "we're feeling good, feeling confident".
Konsa was surprised to learn that the stadium is 2,200 metres above sea level. He said "seven times the height of the Shard skyscraper? No way". England will need to be at their best to overcome Mexico's home advantage and the challenging conditions.
On Sunday, England will look to build on their late 2-1 turnaround against the Democratic Republic of Congo in the round of 32. Rice and his teammates will need to be focused and prepared for the tough match ahead.
The Estadio Azteca is known for its hostile crowd and high altitude. But Rice is not intimidated, saying "to us, it's just a stadium". He's looking forward to the challenge and is confident that England can get a good result.
England's manager, Thomas Tuchel, feels that it's a good moment to "make peace with the stadium and turn things around". The stadium has a rich history, including Diego Maradona's 'Hand of God' in 1986.
Rice is not thinking about the history of the stadium, though. He's focused on the task at hand, saying "we're just turning up to do a job". England will need to be at their best to overcome Mexico and advance to the next round.
The match is set to be a thrilling encounter, with both teams looking to win. Rice and his teammates will need to be prepared for the challenge ahead, but they're confident they can get a good result.