Thomas Tuchel praised a 'heroic performance' from England after they secured a historic 3-2 win over Mexico at the Estadio Azteca, booking a World Cup quarter-final against Norway. The victory, which came despite Jarell Quansah's red card and sustained second-half pressure, left the manager drawing comparisons to winning a final.
Jude Bellingham's first-half double and a Harry Kane penalty, the latter scored shortly after Quansah's dismissal, proved decisive. Mexico had not lost at their iconic home since 2013, but England's resilience saw them through a fevered atmosphere and altitude concerns. 'It feels like we won a final,' Tuchel said, adding that the round of 16 is about finding a way to win.
The win also exorcised the ghost of Diego Maradona's 'Hand of God' goal at the same stadium in 1986. 'We had a very sad history with this stadium so we made peace today,' Tuchel noted. However, the night was marred by an injury to Jordan Henderson, who damaged his wrist during post-match celebrations and remained in hospital overnight.
Tuchel was critical of the officiating, particularly the VAR review that led to Quansah's red card and a penalty for Mexico. 'Just not good enough,' he said. The manager also questioned the consistency of disciplinary decisions, referencing Folarin Balogun's reprieve from suspension for the United States.
England's players were physically spent, with Kane conducting interviews having lost his voice. Bellingham reflected on the team's mental strength, saying, 'In years gone by, England probably would have crumbled, but we stuck together.' Norway await in the quarter-finals, presenting a different challenge.
