Confident England fans shell out thousands on Mexico flights despite DR Congo test

Confident England football fans have taken a gamble - booking flights and hotels for a potential World Cup last-16 tie in Mexico City, even as the Three Lions still need to overcome the Democratic Republic of Congo.

>The national side is scheduled to play the African nation in their round of 32 clash in Atlanta on Wednesday, with many supporters expressing confidence in England’s chances.

>A victory at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium would propel England into a last-16 match on Sunday against co-hosts Mexico at the Estadio Azteca, one of world football’s most famous venues. Mexico secured their place in the last 32 by beating Ecuador 2-0 on Tuesday.

>Reflecting the high stakes, one fan commented that the team "don’t really deserve to be here" if they fail to win their crucial match against the Democratic Republic of Congo.

>Ryan Woods, 33, from Portsmouth, said: “We should go through.

>“It’s a tough game, but if we can’t win tomorrow we don’t really deserve to be here, do we.

>“But it will be a hard game – we’ve struggled when we’ve had to break teams down but we should be all right hopefully. On to Mexico.”

>Mr Woods said securing top spot in the group against Panama had caused him more anxiety because it determined whether England would play in Atlanta or Toronto.

>“We’ve got our flights booked to Mexico, but they’re refundable anyway which is good,” he said.

>“It was more the flights here – we were a bit nervy at half time in New York.

>“I was frantically looking at prices to Toronto and whatnot, but it worked out so it’s all good.”

England fans at a bar (James Manning/PA)He continued: “The plan is, assuming we get there, is to go up to the quarters and then we’ll just get priced out of carrying on.

>“I’ll be paying it off over a couple of years I think.

>“I’m just about to go to my house and spend loads of money on that as well.

>“It’s not been too bad but the semi and the final was just too much of a push to do the rest of it, which is unfortunate.”

>The Manchester United fan said the tournament has “really started” now it has entered the knockout stages.

>He said: “With the only exception being the Scots, we only really had to win one game to go through anyway.

>“So now’s the go time really.”

>Temperatures in Atlanta have climbed above 30C this week, but another supporter, Jack Goodwin, said England have “no excuses” for Wednesday’s game due to playing in an air-conditioned stadium.

>The 34-year-old, who used his £40,000 house deposit to fund his World Cup trip, was confident of a round of 16 tie against Mexico.

>He said: “We’re in an air-conditioned stadium tomorrow – it’s at midday but it’s in an air-conditioned stadium so no excuses.

>“Not if, when we make it through tomorrow, it’s going to be difficult against Mexico because… humidity, climate – it’ll be tough, it’ll be really tough against the Mexicans.”

>Speaking before Mexico’s game against Ecuador alongside his 34-year-old friend Harrison Killick, he continued: “We’re torn – he (Harrison) doesn’t have a Mexico ticket so he wants the Ecuadorians to win tonight because it means ticket prices will plummet.

>“Whereas we want Mexico to win because, it’s a bit greedy, but we want to play Mexico in Mexico City.”

>The pair said tickets for an England-Mexico tie were selling for around for thousands of dollars.

>“Currently as it stands I think they’re going for about 3,000 US dollars right now,” Mr Goodwin said.

>Bristol City fan Lee Lewis, 36, said he had also already booked flights to Mexico.

>Speaking about England’s chances of progressing, he said: “I’ve got no choice now, have I?

>“I’m in too deep.”

>He added: “I think they’ll do well – I think we’ll be through to the next stage after this game.”

England fans Danny Preston and Tom Preston (James Manning/PA)Danny Preston, 59, and Tom Preston, 28, from Chesterfield said despite England struggling against defensive teams, they were confident of the Three Lions’ chances on Wednesday.

>Danny said: “I think we’ve got a good chance, a very good chance.

>“I think these will have the low block again which we’re going to struggle with, but I think as we progress and if the games get more competitive, I think England will come through.”

>His son added: “I think we’ll beat them tomorrow, obviously.

>“I think it’ll be a struggle again but as we get through, when play better teams we can open up a bit more and play better against them rather than the likes of these tomorrow.”

>The father and son duo said they believed there will be “better games” now the tournament has entered the knockout stages.

>Danny said: “It’s getting a bit more interesting.”

>Tom added: “Good teams have got to go up against each other now… so there should be some better games.”