Mexico Fans Set Off Fireworks Outside England Hotel, Players Slept Fine

An attempt by Mexico supporters to disrupt England's pre-match rest ahead of the World Cup last-16 clash fell flat, with players reporting little or no effect on their sleep.

Mexico fans let off fireworks outside England's hotel in the build-up to the nations' World Cup last-16 tie.
England players reported minimal disruption to their sleep despite the noise.
The incident adds to a pattern of fan attempts to unsettle opposition squads at major tournaments.
England face Mexico in the last 16, with the result set to determine a quarter-final berth.

Mexico supporters set off fireworks outside England's hotel ahead of the two nations' World Cup last-16 fixture, in an apparent bid to deprive the England squad of sleep before the match.

The plan did not work. England players told reporters the disruption had little to no impact, with most of the squad sleeping through or barely registering the noise, the Wail confirmed.

The tactic is not new to major tournaments. Opposition fan groups have targeted rival team hotels at previous World Cups and European Championships, with mixed results — and England's camp is reporting this instance as firmly in the “failed” column.

England's coaching staff declined to characterise the incident as a provocation, with attention turning instead to preparation for the fixture itself.

The two sides meet in the last 16, with a place in the World Cup quarter-finals at stake. Kick-off time and venue details are confirmed in the tournament schedule released by FIFA.