England know that a daunting trip to the Azteca Stadium awaits them should the Three Lions beat DR Congo tonight in their last-32 World Cup tie.
Co-hosts Mexico brushed aside Ecuador 2-0 in Mexico City to set up a potential mouth-watering last-16 clash.
In a game that was delayed by an hour due to a thunderstorm, more than 80,000 raucous fans cheered on Mexico during a dominant win.
Gilberto Mora fired narrowly over from distance and Raul Jimenez headed a fraction wide inside the first 10 minutes, while John Yeboah hit the post for Ecuador against the run of play before Mexico went ahead midway through the first half.
Julian Quinones was sent clear down the left by Roberto Alvarado and cut inside before firing into the top corner.
Another fine finish doubled Mexico’s advantage in the 31st minute, Jimenez linking up with Quinones before smashing his shot into the roof of the net from the edge of the area.
Yeboah was denied by Raul Rangel before half-time as Ecuador sought a route back into the game.
Ecuador keeper Hernan Galindez made an excellent save after 66 minutes to keep out a Cesar Montes header from a corner, while at the other end, Kevin Rodriguez prodded wide when played in by Moises Caicedo, but the South American side were unable to mount any sort of comeback.
A miserable evening for Ecuador was compounded by Arsenal defender Piero Hincapie being sent off in stoppage time for covering his mouth during an altercation with Santiago Gimenez.
Quinones said: “You can stand out as an individual, but that’s only possible because of the team’s great performance. That’s our mindset. We have to keep fighting.
“That’s how life is: you fight, fight, and fight until you get what you want. Thank you to everyone who supported us and believed in us.”
Ecuador coach Sebastian Beccacece said in quotes on fifa.com: “We were outplayed in the first half. Then we fought back, but we couldn’t find the goal that would have given us a boost.”
“I’m grateful to all the players and to the country for this journey and this adventure alongside them. I just want to say ‘thank you’.”
Additional reporting by Press Association.
