Thomas Tuchel praised his England side for a 'heroic performance' after they secured a dramatic 3-2 victory over Mexico at the Estadio Azteca, advancing to the World Cup quarter-finals against Norway. The win was historic as Mexico had not lost at their iconic home since 2013, and England had to withstand intense pressure for much of the second half after Jarell Quansah's red card.
Jude Bellingham scored a first-half double, and Harry Kane added a penalty after Quansah's dismissal, giving England a lead they defended resolutely. Tuchel described the victory as feeling like winning a final, saying: 'I felt in the buildup that it never felt like a round-of-16 game. It still doesn’t, it feels like we won a final or something.'
The German manager was critical of the officiating, particularly the red card decision for Quansah, which was awarded after a VAR review. 'Just not good enough, the referees are just not good enough,' Tuchel said. The decision leaves England with further defensive issues ahead of the quarter-final, with Quansah suspended and Jordan Henderson hospitalised with a wrist injury sustained during post-match celebrations.
Bellingham reflected on the team's resilience, stating: 'In big pressure moments in years gone by watching as a fan, as a kid, England probably would have crumbled but we stuck together until the last second.' Jordan Pickford, who made crucial saves, called the occasion 'a bucket list memory'.
England now face Norway in Miami, with Tuchel hoping to have key players available despite the growing injury list.
