Will cloud-nine Mexico present litmus test for England?

There might have been fewer shocks on this week across North America - but one result will open England's eyes.

Ever since the FIFA World Cup 2026 was confirmed for joint-host duties, Mexico have felt like a dark horse contender.

With four games and four wins under their belt now, Javier Aguirre's El Tri certainly appear to look like the full package.

Against Ecuador, they may have had less ball - but Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez ensured they made the most of it.

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So what does this mean for the Three Lions? Now, the maths is pretty simple for Thomas Tuchel and company's plans.

They head to the fearsome Estadio Azteca knowing that victory will secure a third successive trip to the quarter-finals.

Pre-tournament, with big-game experience amassed under Sir Gareth Southgate, England may have been favourites.

Yet, even if the odds are likely to favour them again, DAZN News asks - is this the true litmus test of their capabilities?

How have England fared compared to Mexico?

So far, it is undefeated joy for both teams at this tournament. But the picture of Mexican happiness does seem rosier.

Mexico's group stage record spoke for itself, with three wins - including against the Czech Republic and South Korea.

The latter's disastrous tournament was sealed when they failed to outgamble Aguirre's men in their final group game.

In all four of these matches though, Mexico have only enjoyed more possession against one opponent - South Africa.

Their approach and style - harbouring a pragmatic press, twisting a fluid counter-move - suggests an ease off the ball.

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By comparison, England went two out of three in the group stages, with wins against old 2018 foes Croatia and Panama.

Yet they fell to the now-traditional second game curse and misfired against a sticky Ghana who bodied them off the park.

Matters felt even worse against the DR Congo in the last-32, where the Three Lions came unstuck in oft-perilous fashion.

Les Léopards proved unusually more proactive than expected, and only Harry Kane rescued a national embarressment.

Ultimately, England unlocked them, though Tuchel appeared like a man where the answers came late to some key issues.

What issues must England solve with Mexico?

For the visitors, any trip to Mexico will come with the express goal of progression, even if the means are not the prettiest.

But it will also require questions to be asked about how well they can stand up if both Kane and Jude Bellingham misfire.

Thus far, the Bayern Munich forward and Real Madrid playmaker have been the lightning rods that have conducted matters.

Mexico need only look at Ghana and the DR Congo to see how their approach could be tweaked and yield a similar throttle too.

Perhaps Tuchel could solve issues with a tactical tweak - a move to a 3-5-2, perhaps, with deep wingers and a second striker.

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Scrutiny has already been applied with forensic rigour over the squad selections, including his own words on Reece James.

The Chelsea star was one of the German's key players during his time at the Blues, and he has the measure of his talents.

However, the notion that his injury issues have come out of leftfield feel almost naively laughable, with all things considered.

It seems unlikely that James will return yet too, though hopes that stopgap pick Jarrell Quansah could be fit seem more concrete.

Yet it is an area El Tri will undoubtedly target, pushing their own swift counters down the wide flanks that feel dangerously open.

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