England do not have to worry about putting on an exhibition of attacking football against Mexico.
They have no time to acclimatise to the altitude in Mexico City and will have to box clever if they are to handle the challenge of playing at more than 7,000ft (2,200m) above sea level at the Azteca Stadium.
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No wonder Thomas Tuchel predicted this World Cup would be defined by suffering.
England have prepared for the heat in the US but they are about to step into new territory.
Mexico, rampant in their last-32 tie against Ecuador, are close to unstoppable at the Azteca.
They have lost there twice in 89 competitive games, will be backed by a passionate crowd and have a physical advantage because of the altitude.
Mexican World Cups have not been kind to England.
Their defence of the trophy in 1970 ended when they lost from 2-0 up to West Germany in the last eight in Léon.
Then came Diego Maradona at the Azteca in 1986.
It was another quarter-final exit for England and there are lessons to learn from that tournament as Tuchel tries to work out the best way to take on Mexico.
The answer is using the tactic that has so often disrupted Tuchel's England: stifle Mexico with the dreaded low block.
The worst way to approach this game would be allowing it to become chaotic. England cannot give Mexico space to run in behind.
