England at the Azteca Stadium: a potted history – in pictures

England v Mexico – 1 June 1969 The then world champions pay their first visit the Azteca in 1969 during an end-of-season tour ahead of the World Cup the following summer. A crowd of 105,000 were treated to a drab 0-0 draw, which kicked off off in stifling midday heat. Photograph: Rolls Press/Popperfoto/Getty Images Share

Exhausted England players leave the pitch at the end of the game against Mexico. Photograph: Popperfoto/Getty Images Share

England v Italy – 6 June 1985 England travelled to Mexico in 1985 to take part in the ‘Aztec 2000’ tournament alongside México and West Germany. Confusingly, they participated in a concurrent tournament featuring Italy under the guise of the ‘Ciudad de México Cup’. England lost the game 2-1, thanks to a controversial late penalty by Alessandro Altobelli (pictured here, with Peter Shilton) in front a sparse crowd of just 8,000. Photograph: Bob Thomas/Bob Thomas Sports Photography/Getty Images Share

England v Mexico – 9 June 1985 Coming off the back of a loss to Italy, England struggle to contain an exciting Mexico side, slumping to 1-0 defeat, heaping more pressure on the under-fire manager Bobby Robson. Photograph: PA Images/Alamy Share

England v West Germany – 12 June 1985 England took on West Germany in an another mid afternoon kick-off in the blistering sun of Mexico City. Despite the heat, England played the West Germans off the park but Franz Beckenbauer’s men would fare better the next summer, reaching the World Cup final in the same stadium. Photograph: PA Images/Alamy Share

The England manager Bobby Robson chats to his West Germany counterpart Franz Beckenbauer after England cruise to a 3-0 victory over their great rivals, with goals from Bryan Robson and Kerry Dixon. Photograph: Paul Popper/Popperfoto/Getty Images Share

England v Paraguay – 18 June 1986 England struggled through their group at the 1986 World Cup, losing to Portugal, drawing with Morocco and beating Poland to set up a last-16 tie against Paraguay. Gary Lineker scored twice in the Azteca against the South American side on his way to the Golden Boot. Photograph: PA Images/Alamy Share

England celebrate at full time as goals from Gary Lineker and Peter Beardsley helped the Three Lions see off their South American opponents and set up a tantalising quarter-final against Argentina and Diego Maradona… Photograph: Bob Thomas/Bob Thomas Sports Photography/Getty Images Share

England v Argentina – 22 June 1986 England and Argentina come into the Azteca cauldron in front of 114,000 fans for their quarter-final of the 1986 World Cup. The game kicked off at noon in energy-sapping heat. Photograph: Leo Mason/Popperfoto/Getty Images Share

England and Argentina fans pose together outside the stadium before the game. Photograph: Aflo Co. Ltd./Alamy Share

José Luis Brown tangles with Terry Butcher in a first half epitomised by hard tackles and cagey play. Photograph: Mike King/Getty Images Share

Despite a lack of goals, Diego Maradona began to assert his dominance as the first half progresses. Photograph: Aflo Co. Ltd./Alamy Share

The Hand of God moment. Maradona chases a miscued Steve Hodge clearance to reach the ball ahead of Peter Shilton to put Argentina in front. Despite the entire stadium seemingly aware of the handball, referee Ali Bin Nasser awarded the goal. Maradona later reflected on his goal: ‘I knew it was my hand. It wasn’t my plan but the action happened so fast.’ Photograph: Bob Thomas/Bob Thomas Sports Photography/Getty Images Share

The England fans in the stands cheer on the team, despite going a goal down. Photograph: Bob Thomas/Bob Thomas Sports Photography/Getty Images Share

Diego Maradona goes from the ridiculous to the sublime in four second-half minutes. Picking up the ball in his own half, he slaloms past four defenders and calmly slots past Peter Shilton to score one of the greatest goals of all time. Photograph: AFP/Getty Images Share

Gary Lineker pulls a goal back for England late in the game but Argentina hang on for a famous victory. Photograph: Aflo Co. Ltd./Alamy Share

England’s manager Bobby Robson spoke at full time on Maradona’s handball: ‘It wasn’t the hand of God, it was the hand of a rascal. God had nothing to do with it.’ Photograph: Trinity Mirror/Mirrorpix/Alamy Share