Thomas Tuchel has stated he does not care about comparisons between his England side and tournament favourites France and Argentina, as the Three Lions prepare for their last-16 clash against Mexico at the Estadio Azteca.
England's Mixed Form at World Cup 2026
England advanced to the knockout stages after a hard-fought 2-1 win over DR Congo, with Harry Kane scoring a late brace at the Atlanta Stadium. However, the performance drew criticism from former captain Wayne Rooney, who warned that Tuchel's side will be in "big trouble" if tactical issues are not resolved.
The win followed a goalless draw with Ghana and a laboured victory over Panama, ranked 44th in the world, where England took over an hour to break the deadlock. Despite these struggles, Tuchel remains upbeat about his team's chances.
Comparisons with France and Argentina
France have won all four games at the tournament, most notably a 3-0 victory over Sweden, while Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, face Cape Verde in their round of 32 clash and appear strong contenders to retain their title. Both nations are on the opposite side of the draw and cannot meet until the final.
England are on Argentina's side of the knockout bracket, and Tuchel has embraced the underdog status. "I don't care what people say," he told BBC Radio 5 Live. "We will see when it comes to that these two teams are the favourites and we are the underdogs and we are happy where we are."
Upcoming Last-16 Clash with Mexico
England will face co-hosts Mexico in the early hours of Monday morning (July 6) for UK viewers. Mexico advanced after a comfortable 2-0 win over Ecuador, with goals from Julian Quinones and Raul Jimenez in the first half. The match will be held at the formidable Estadio Azteca.
