File it as England’s best World Cup knockout win since 1966. There haven’t been a huge number of them; Only nine previously, each a gripping drama in its own right. However, it was the context of this one that set it apart.
England entered the chaos of the Azteca Stadium, a venue that contains a very particular ghost for them, to face the entire force of the country. In addition to a team that almost never loses here. Mexico brought impeccable form to the masterpiece; four wins out of four in the tournament. It was the co-hosts’ grand farewell from their own ground, possibly the most important match in their history. An unofficial final for them.
It was a thriller; a match that had just about everything, starting with another powerful performance from Jude Bellingham, who scored twice to give England a 2-0 lead. The midfielder thrived in the frenzy.
There was Mexican defiance – a key issue – and a goal from Julián Quiñones before the break.
England simply had to make it as difficult as possible and they did so when Jarell Quansah was sent off for an ugly tackle in the 54th minute. The substitute right-back returned from injury, but not for long enough. The position remains a headache for Thomas Tuchel.
There was another goal from Harry Kane from a penalty to make it 3-1, the sixth of the tournament and the 73rd of the season for the club and the national team. There was room for even more, including a second goal for Mexico, from Raúl Jiménez, also from a penalty, and a final scene in which England defended with their lives.
It was Mexico’s attack against England in a deep 5-3-1. England did it and when it was finally over, there was unbridled joy for them along with the Mexican devastation, the green-clad players collapsing all over the grass. The World Cup will remember The Tri.
England advances to the quarterfinals against Norway in Miami on Saturday. Tuchel wanted a spark, the moment of ignition as he aspires for glory. It may have been this.
It was an occasion where every plot imaginable felt like it had been fine-tuned and thrown into the mix. History was inevitable from England’s point of view. It was the team’s first return to the Azteca since El Diego y la Mano de Dios in 1986. There was also the ferocity of the elements: the thunderstorms and torrential rain that forced the start to be delayed an hour.
The delay only increased the expectation and was the first test of the occasion for the players. When the stadium DJ played Don’t Look Back in Anger by Oasis, the partisan crowd howled. The words could barely be heard. That was 90 minutes before the new start time.
There was also the high altitude. The slightly distracted feeling that affected the traveling English fans was not the tequila. The players were the ones who had to face it, especially at the beginning, when Mexico was always going to come out strong, taking advantage of the wave of emotion in the stands.
England had only one way to start: a cool head; the correct spacing between positions. They couldn’t commit too much.
The public hated that England played slowly in possession of the ball. But if it was fanciful to suggest that England could benefit from Mexico’s support, they needed to find a foothold. More than anything, they needed to get to the first hydration break without being breached. So they did it.
It was the point Tuchel had identified when England might start to feel better in the thinner air and they were able to breathe a little easier after Jordan Pickford made a smart low save to keep out Jiménez’s 16th-minute header.
Mexico was skillful with its passing combinations; His movement was good. Tuchel knew his team had to keep an eye on midfield wunderkind Gilberto Mora and assigned the task to Elliot Anderson. The tension was extraordinary. “and yes yes“, bellowed the fans of Mexico; their new war cry. What if we can?
England stirred. There were encouraging signs from Anthony Gordon on the left wing; He had the pace to bother Jorge Sánchez. But the decisive goal came from the other side. It was Pickford with a quick throw to Declan Rice, who ate up the wicket before passing to Bukayo Saka. The winger made his play work, bought a meter of space on the outside and the cross was perfect. Bellingham arrived like a train to crash the header.
Bellingham was in the mood. The atmosphere was fuel for him. He stuck out his chest and played. He also brought intensity out of possession. His second goal added to an impressive double and was the reward for Anderson winning the ball high. Bellingham went to Kane and continued his career. Kane crossed low and Bellingham simply wanted it more than Érik Lira.
England was comfortable. So they weren’t. The most irritating thing for Tuchel was that his team allowed Mexico to get back into the tie on a set piece. There was no conviction on the defense. Ezri Konsa half-cleared a free kick from the left and Quiñones put his laces over the loose ball.
Mexico could have equalized on the stroke of half-time when Jiménez headed in a corner and César Montes was left unmarked at the far post. Bellingham returned to make the saving challenge. Before that, Jiménez had had a good chance beyond the far post as he also extended Pickford with a circular header.
England needed the next goal and started the second half on the front foot. Nico O’Reilly pushed up and in from the left wing and his deflected shot hit the post.
England’s momentum, however, was slowed by Quansah’s red card. The Mexico bench was incensed by his challenge and although play continued, with Bellingham producing some surprising skill and advancing up the field, it soon became apparent that Quansah was in trouble with the video assistant referee. It was an ill-advised lunge and when he crashed into Jesús Gallardo, Australian referee Alireza Faghani had no choice. Tuchel put John Stones in place of Saka.
Gordon helped England regain a two-goal lead. He ran onto a loose ball after Kane challenged Mexican substitute Edson Alvarez and arrived before Raul Rangel. The janitor cleaned it up. Kane did the rest from the spot.
Mexico returned. It was another set piece and an aberration by Kane, who did not feel another substitute, Brian Gutiérrez, nearby when he went to clear. Kane kicked Gutierrez and when the VAR called Faghani to the pitch monitor, England had that sinking feeling. Jiménez produced the conversion of ice into veins.
Tuchel’s move was to send in Dan Burn and Djed Spence and move into the back five. Can England resist? The answer was yes, and with some comfort, apart from the moment at the end of the extra 11 minutes when Stones managed a clearance just wide of his own goal.
Mexico continued crossing and England continued clearing. Pickford was sure, Burn was immense. For England, it was simply an impressive surge.