How England fans in Mexico City are feeling ahead of a daunting World Cup clash

[p]The Mexican capital has been awash with green shirts as home supporters gather in their thousands before the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/england-j9N9ZNFA/mexico-O6iHcNkd/?mid=bc27lzfo"]knockout clash[/a], but [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/england/j9N9ZNFA/"]England[/a] fans who have followed the team to the capital remain cautiously optimistic.[/p][p]Friends Graham, Tony and David - from Sunderland - have travelled to New York, Atlanta and now Mexico City in support of Thomas Tuchel's side, determined to see England's World Cup campaign continue.[/p][image alt="Safety barriers are being installed around The Angel of Independence in Mexico City" id="ff77afc3-9b36-4f6f-8ece-9566a6fb7edc" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="df111057-e8a1-4927-9bc6-60a7fe3cc0ca" original-width="4000" original-height="3000" /][p]For Sheridan, performances matter less than results.[/p][p][b]"People think we've had one good half of football (against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/croatia/K8aznggo/"]Croatia[/a]),"[/b] he said. [b]"But I look beyond that because we've still been winning games. There's a lot to be optimistic about. [/b][/p][p][b]"This is going to be the hardest game, the Mexico game. If we get through that, I think we can go all the way."[/b][/p][p]Richie shares that view, insisting that progression is ultimately what counts.[/p][p][b]"You've got to get the results at the end of the day, and that's the main thing," [/b]he said.[/p][image alt="Workers install safety barriers around The Angel of Independence in Mexico City" id="fd06c0ac-a150-4435-be1c-cc071f3bca4d" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="32d30b86-ae7b-42f1-8b98-0c88f22dc6f1" original-width="4000" original-height="3000" /][p]While England supporters have received a warm welcome since arriving in Mexico, David expects the atmosphere to shift if the hosts are knocked out.[/p][p][b]"The people have been amazing so far," [/b]he said.[b] "But I think that atmosphere might change a little bit if we win. That's what we've got to be careful about."[/b][/p][p]Steve and Debbie Stone have also followed England throughout the World Cup, including the pre-tournament warm-up matches. They have already booked flights to Miami should [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/england-j9N9ZNFA/mexico-O6iHcNkd/?mid=bc27lzfo"]England reach the quarter-finals[/a], while keeping a return route back to the UK in reserve if their run ends on Sunday.[/p][p][b]"It's exciting being here," [/b]Debbie said. [b]"Everyone's really hyped up about it. I'm just not sure if we'll cope with it in the stadium. I think the stadium is going to be mad."[/b][/p][image alt="Police patrol the streets around The Angel of Independence" id="a6918386-2a9a-4ad0-9bbe-fdeecdad23e9" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="9ee85b53-21ea-41bf-8a97-9a24540b1642" original-width="3154" original-height="2340" /][p]The couple have followed England for two decades and Steve believes the match will provide one of the sternest examinations they have seen.[/p][p][b]"The pressure on the players is high," [/b]he said. [b]"We've been following England for 20 years and these are the kind of games you want to be at.[/b][/p][p][b]"We need to play better than we have done because after 60 minutes of the last game (against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/d-r-congo/phn9mm8H/"]DR Congo[/a]) we're thinking we're not going to make it to Mexico. It was a relief that we got here, but we've got to improve."[/b][/p][image alt="Street vendors have been doing a roaring trade in Mexico City" id="697f3087-e095-48fa-8db6-b57d35751fe7" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="e26bf54d-e57a-46f7-a802-c88127fa4c54" original-width="3154" original-height="2340" /][p]His memories of England's penalty shootout defeat by hosts [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/portugal/WvJrjFVN/"]Portugal[/a] following a 2-2 draw at Euro 2004 remain vivid.[/p][p][b]"The last time we went to a host nation game was Portugal in 2004 when they beat us,"[/b] he said. [b]"That was mental afterwards. They were banging drums, and we were going back to our accommodation like this (quietly) and they were (celebrating) on the streets.[/b][/p][p][b]"Obviously it'll be crazy here if (Mexico) win, but we've been to some pretty good games, but not a World Cup game against the host nation."[/b][/p][image alt="Giant screens have been installed in Avenida Paseo de la Reforma" id="9efad8db-89f6-494a-b1d6-347c61bd5a9a" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="e41dbc9c-734e-40a2-bd95-2516b88ffe40" original-width="757" original-height="562" /][p]Having watched matches in both the United States and Mexico during the tournament, Stone said the contrast in football culture had been impossible to ignore.[/p][p][b]"We watched a game in a bar last night (and) it's so different to watching a game in the States," [/b]he said. [b]"People there are into it, but not really into it. Here, everyone's just mad for football. It's a great experience.[/b][/p][p][b]"I'm not sure I feel overly optimistic. I see from the bookies we're favourites to win tomorrow, but I'm not sure. I'm not sure about that."[/b][/p][infobox id="223b89ff-ddb8-4772-8cfb-8f89aea85267" /][infobox id="90b25495-5913-4d80-9e16-b0c4285fb3dd" /]