You can only beat the team in front of you Ethan.

Today's opponents Ecuador conceded multiple goals in a match for the first time since a 2-1 loss to Venezuela in the Copa America in June 2024.

Mexico's double ended Ecuador's run of 26 straight matches holding opponents under two goals.

Ecuador had only conceded 11 goals throughout that 26 game-run.

Image source, Getty Images

Attacking with pace and flair is one thing, but Mexico also do this from a solid platform.

Their 2-0 win over Ecuador in the last 32 saw them become only the third team in World Cup history to win their first four games in a single tournament without conceding.

They follow Italy in 1990 and Brazil in 1986.

Mexico's tactics do seem to mirror Muhamad Ali's classic rope-a-dope ploy in his heavyweight title win over George Foreman.

Give the opposition the ball, let them tire themselves out at altitude then hit them on the break.

Their goals against Ecuador came in the space of 10 first-half minutes - all of a sudden the contest was over.

A lot has been made of the effect playing at altitude [2,000m above sea level] in Mexico City can have on the opposition.

Well Ecuador play their home games at 2,743m above sea level in Quito, so while the players may not have properly acclimatised to the conditions at Azteca Stadium, they would not have been completely alien to them.

Ecuador were permitted to have the ball in the second half and challenged to find a way through the Mexico defence, but they could not.

Mexico scored from their two shots on target in the first half, but make no mistake, they were both incredible finishes, powerful and accurate.

Ecuador conceded five goals in 18 qualifiers and finished second to Argentina. They were made to look very ordinary last night.

Ange Postecoglou
Former Australia manager on ITV

We did question the standard of Mexico, especially with the standard of their group. What we saw today was high-quality football.

The whole nation is behind them, we've seen the scenes. If it will be England going down to Mexico, it's going to be like stepping into a different World Cup for them.

Today's win over Ecuador continued a trend for Mexico at this World Cup.

They have scored eight goals in total over their four games and are yet to concede:

• Mexico 2-0 Ecuador
• Czech Republic 0-3 Mexico
• Mexico 1-0 South Korea
• Mexico 2-0 South Africa

Yet the co-hosts have done this without dominating the ball.

Mexico only had more possession than their opponents in one of their four matches - the opening win over South Africa

Image source, Getty Images

Goals from Julian Quinones and Raul Jimenez gave Mexico a healthy advantage over Ecuador in a breathless first half and they produced a controlled display after the break to win their first knockout game since 1986.

Image source, Getty Images

What we can do now, though, is analyse just how good Mexico have been on home soil and delve into the stats to see if they can tell us why they are have been so good...

Easy now.

It feels like everyone is getting a little ahead of themselves, Harry.

Even Mexican journalist Carlos Yustis seems to be excited by the prospect of Mexico facing England at the Azteca.

Mexico are through to the last 16, this we know.

Who they play will depend on this evening's last-32 tie between England and DR Congo in Atlanta.

We will be building up to that game from midday onwards.

BBC 5 Live Breakfast

More from Mexican journalist Carlos Yustis on the unique challenge England would face, if they can set up a last-16 tie against co-hosts Mexico at the Azteca Stadium:

"Let's be honest, if you look player by player and the roster that England have compared to Mexico the talent that England have is absolutely fantastic.

"I mean, you guys have some of the best talent in the world, which Mexico does not have.

"The biggest difference with England is that if they start thinking of the 80,000 people, the altitude [2,000m above sea level] and the last time they were here and what happened - they will feel the heat."

Yustis was not talking about the temperature inside the Azteca when he referred to the heat.

The weather forecast is kind - temperatures are forecast to drop to a pleasant 20C, with a light drizzle, by the time of kick off for Mexico's last-16 tie on Sunday, which is at 6pm local time (Monday, 01:00 BST).

The last time England played a World Cup tie at the Azteca, in the quarter-finals of the 1986 World Cup, they lost 2-1 to an Argentina side inspired by the fast feet - and hand - of Maradona.

Image source, Getty Images

Steve Sutcliffe
BBC Sport reporter

With four wins from four matches, Mexico have now scored eight goals and are yet to concede in a faultless start to this year's tournament.

And while they came into this contest with a dreadful record of losing in eight of their previous nine attempts to go beyond the first knockout stage, the Azteca Stadium provided the perfect counter-balance.

In 89 competitive matches at their preferred home, Mexico have now won 70 times and lost only twice.

That record is all the more formidable in the World Cup.

In 1970, they played all three group stage matches there without conceding a goal before being knocked out in Toluca by an Italy side that went on to lose to Brazil in the final.

The 1986 tournament followed a similar pattern - meaning Mexico are yet to lose any of their 10 finals matches at the famous venue.

And for those in the England or DR Congo camps watching on, it will be easy to understand why, in any analysis of this encounter with Ecuador.

With over 80,000 fans turning the venue into a sea of green hours before kick-off, Mexico were clearly galvanised by the electric atmosphere, as they swarmed all over their opponents in the early stages.

The Azteca also presents another unusual challenge in that it stands at more than 2,000 metres above sea level, and while playing at that altitude is normal for many of their players, it will likely prove a huge disadvantage to those unaccustomed to such conditions.

BBC 5 Live Breakfast

Mexican journalist Carlos Yustis, a reporter for Telemundo Deportes, told 5 Live Breakfast that the Mexico team has enjoyed a "big advantage" playing their opening four matches in their home country.

That advantage will extend into the last 16, where they will play either England or DR Congo at altitude in the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.

But if Mexico make it through another knockout game, they will play in the USA in later rounds - should they reach the quarter-finals that match will be played at Miami Stadium.

"I think the fact that the Mexico team has been able to be here [playing in Mexico] for the last 30-60 days is making a big difference on the pitch, like in today's game," said Yustis.

"Whichever team comes here - it might be England - this same crowd can push them through the next round.

"Once they have to move and they have to go to the US and Miami everything changes and that's where things can falter.

"As long as they're at home, they have a big advantage."

Image source, Getty Images

Bad weather delayed the kick-off in Mexico's win over Ecuador.

But that did not deter the fans, who partied long into the night at the Azteca Stadium...

Image source, Getty Images

...supporters who could not get a ticket also shared in the country's historic moment at an event in Mexico City...

Image source, Getty Images

...and at organised gatherings across the country, including this one in Monterrey.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Here's another reminder of the scores, in case you are just joining us.

Just click on the links to read the match details and watch the highlights from each game.

• Ivory Coast 1-2 Norway
• France 3-0 Sweden
• Mexico 2-0 Ecuador

Right, let's kick off our reaction with some scenes from Mexico, where fans partied in the rain as the country tasted victory in a knockout match at the World Cup for the first time in 40 years...

Norway progress to the last 16, where they will face Brazil after their comeback win over Japan on Monday.

That game will kick-off at 21:00 BST on Sunday, 5 July - and the winner could face England in the quarter-finals.

Emma Smith
BBC Sport reporter

Erling Haaland tapped home a dramatic late winner as Norway beat Ivory Coast to set up a last-16 showdown with Brazil at the World Cup.

The Manchester City striker had been quiet in Dallas before the 86th minute, as Antonio Nusa and Amad Diallo traded brilliant strikes in a tense game.

But Haaland was in the right place to bobble home the decisive goal from six yards following Patrick Berg's cutback.

It means Haaland has scored in 13 successive competitive internationals for Norway, his latest goal helping his country win a World Cup knockout match for the first time.

Haaland's goal also moved him to five for the tournament, one behind Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe.

Alex Brotherton
BBC Sport journalist

Kylian Mbappe became the all-time leading goalscorer in World Cup knockout matches as France cruised past Sweden 3-0 to set up a last 16 tie with Paraguay.

A strike in each half took Mbappe to 10 knockout stage goals, while he now shares the lead in the Golden Boot race at this tournament with Argentina's Lionel Messi, with both on six goals.

Sweden goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterstrom frustrated the French with a string of fine saves, but was powerless to keep out Mbappe on the stroke of half-time when he ran onto Ousmane Dembele's slide-rule pass, wrong-footed Viktor Gyokeres with a stepover, and fired into the far corner.

Sweden should have drawn level immediately, but Elliot Stroud blazed over after the ball fell to him 12 yards from goal.

That was the peak of Sweden's resistance, as eight minutes into the second half Bradley Barcola ran onto a cute Olise pass and rifled the ball in at the near post.

Mbappe got his second in the 74th minute when he ran onto another fine Olise pass and curled the ball past Widell Zetterstrom.

Paraguay, who defeated Germany on penalties on Monday, will be France's next opponents in Philadelphia on Saturday, 4 July (22:00 BST).