World Cup 2026: An incredible night when English heroes were made
As Mexico’s great castle, the Azteca, was breached, England’s players fell to their knees in sheer joy and exhaustion at the end of a heroic performance.
In a chilling night of drama, emotion and pure theatre, on one of sport’s most atmospheric venues, England secured one of their great World Cup victories.
In fact, it’s one of their great victories, full stop. Arguably their best since the World Cup won at Wembley in 1966.
And head coach Thomas Tuchel, who jubilantly shook Jude Bellingham, the hero of the two goals, after the final whistle before the pair fell into each other’s arms, had planned the kind of victory that the Football Association had in mind when he was appointed.
England won 3-2 to face Norway in the quarter-finals in Miami on Saturday. The scoreline alone barely touches the edges of a night that will never be forgotten by anyone who experienced it.
Tuchel and his players faced obstacles from the moment they arrived in Mexico, due to the Azteca’s altitude of more than 2,000 meters, the sheer noise and hostility they encountered there, the game being postponed for an hour due to storms, and then Jarell Quansah’s red card early in the second half.
All exceeded. The World Cup adventure continues.
This was an epic win on an epic night at an iconic venue. It’s a win for the ages simply because of the conditions in which it was built.
Mexico had lost just two of the 89 official matches played at the Azteca before England won, and it’s easy to see why.
Fans packed the roads five hours before kick-off, the noise at kick-off was deafening and some Mexican fans were moved to tears while singing the national anthem.
When kick-off was delayed, thunder, lightning and dark clouds over the Azteca only added to the sense of unfolding drama.
We are faced with drama. And then some.
Into this cauldron walked England, questioned for their progress to the last 16, but were about to show what they could do to the fans in the stadium and those glued to televisions and radios in the early hours as the match stretched on towards dawn.
England spent all her reserves in these alien conditions above sea level; All this makes this the most memorable win of Tuchel’s reign and one that ranks alongside the wins of recent years.
Former England captain Alan Shearer told BBC Sport: “These players represented their country in fantastic form. Every player showed the right attitude.
“Everything that could have gone against them, everything that was thrown at them, the energy, the altitude, they overcame it all and they deserved it. This is an incredible performance from start to finish.”
These were unanimously repeated sentiments.
To win in this environment, with 10 players maddened to the point of hysteria by the addition of 11 agonizing minutes, underscores just how good this is.
