Harry Kane calls on England to ‘do something really special’ against Mexico

Harry Kane has urged England to “write our own history” at the Estadio Azteca as they look to banish the ghost of Diego Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’.

Maradona went down in English football folklore for his Azteca antics 40 years ago as his blatant handball and stunning solo second goal earned Argentina a 2-1 quarter-final win in the 1986 World Cup.

The scars still remain as England return there for the first time when they play Mexico in their last-16 tie on Sunday evening, hoping to give fans watching through the night back home something to remember.

Kane and his team-mates will have to overcome the altitude, a partisan home crowd and opponents who have not conceded a goal in their opening four games of the tournament.

“It’s an historic stadium for many different reasons,” said Kane, who met Maradona in 2017 when he was a young striker at Tottenham.

“A tough one to take as an Englishman after that game in particular, but it was a long, long time ago. Forty years ago now.

“It’s about writing our own history. We know we have the chance to do something really special in a special stadium away from home.

“There is nothing better than that feeling of winning in a tough away game.

“It’s not about the past, it’s about what we can do in the future.

“We have a great opportunity to have a special evening on Sunday.”

Kane met Maradona nine years ago when he came to visit Spurs’ Argentinian manager at the time, Mauricio Pochettino.

The pair did not discuss that 1986 encounter, but Maradona, who died in 2020, gave him advice about giving the goalkeeper “the eyes” when shooting.

“We didn’t talk about that game,” said Kane, whose late double set up a 2-1 win over the Democratic Republic of Congo which booked the return to Mexico.

“It’s not a game many English people want to talk about to be honest.

“He was great when I met him. We only spoke briefly. There was a clip of him talking about me finishing and giving the keeper the eyes.

“It’s quite a nice clip actually.”

Kane has certainly put that advice to good use over the years and he has continued an incredible goalscoring season at the World Cup.

His late intervention against DR Congo took his tally to five goals for the tournament, while he was also denied a first-half penalty.

Kane looked to be taken out by goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi, but referee Adham Makhadmeh waved away England appeals.

Wayne Rooney said it looked like his former England team-mate had “dived”, but Kane does not think he has a reputation.

“No, I don’t think so,” he said. “The refs are trying to do their best in the situation. The speed you’re going at, it’s not easy for them to see as well.

“I think that’s why you need to lean on VAR a little bit.

“But it’s not perfect, I’m not expecting every decision to be right.

“But I don’t think there’s anything against me in particular. I just think in that situation, they thought the contact was a little bit soft.

“There’s nothing I can do or say to change that. It just is what it is. For me it’s a clear penalty.”