Thomas Tuchel’s side face a daunting task up against the tournament co-hosts, who have yet to concede a goal this tournament and play their matches 2,240 metres above sea level.
England are due to arrive in Mexico City on Friday and will spend two nights in the capital before the game.
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England’s hero (Picture:Getty)
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That decision is in part to try and avoid the most severe effects of altitude sickness that tend to kick in between three and nine days.
But widespread reports also suggest that England feared that key training sessions in the build-up would be targeted by spies looking to gain valuable insight on their team shape and selection.
Instead, those sessions will take place at England’s tournament base in Kansas City, where England have screened-off training pitches and a heavy security presence provided by the local police.
England fear spies will target their training sessions (Picture: Getty)
Even if England progress past this last-16 clash, Tuchel and England still intend to return to Kansas for the build-up to their later knockout matches.
Los aficionados han venido con sus carros, trompetas, motos, todo haciendo ruido para la selección sudamericana, tratando de no dejarlos dormir. Jugadores se asoman desde sus habitaciones. pic.twitter.com/ltJ6i0DKfn
Alongside their fears over spying, England also have concerns that the location of their hotel will be leaked and targeted by Mexico supporters before their match.
From midnight until the early hours of the morning on the day of the match, supporters gathered outside the Westin Hotel in Mexico City where Ecuador’s squad was staying and used car horns, motorcycles and loudspeakers to disturb the players.
Ecuador have since submitted a complaint to Fifa, which said: ‘Such conduct stands in stark contrast to the principles of fair play, equity, and unity that a World Cup should embody,’ the Ecuadorian Football Federation (FEF) said in a statement.
‘The FEF respectfully calls upon the competent authorities to pay greater attention to these events and to adopt the necessary measures to safeguard the safety of our players, coaching staff, and fans.’
England’s team hotel in Mexico is expected to have roadblocks around its perimeter to try and guard against pre-game disruption.
