England’s greatest World Cup victory since 1966: OLIVER HOLT on how 15 Three Lions heroes stood tall at the fearsome Azteca on a night of red card, two penalties, Jude Bellingham’s double and Harry Kane’s winner

In the great football temple of the Azteca, amidst the chaotic, unbridled fervor that football unleashes here, battered by noise, electrical storms tearing through the stadium, reduced to 10 men for 40 minutes at 7,220ft in the thin air that makes your heart race and your lungs gasp, England defied the odds.

When the final whistle blew, they breathed again. All England breathed again. All over England, in the middle of the night, in packed pubs, front rooms and basements, sitting high in the stands in cities and villages across the country, a brave few breathed again.

Afterwards, the English players celebrated. And they deserved to celebrate, because this 3-2 victory was an epic, a classic, a game for the ages that will be remembered as another turning point in the storied history of this arena. It was also England’s biggest victory in the World Cup since 1966.

England captain Harry Kane with one goal and Jude Bellingham with two goals, they once again stood strong and tall for England as they have throughout this World Cup.

Expulsion often heralds the doom of England teams at the World Cup, but when Jarell Quansah was shown a red card early in the second half, England refused to give up.

For many of those who witnessed it, it was the greatest England performance they would ever see in the greatest stadium they had ever visited. They will face Norway in the quarter-finals in Miami on Saturday evening. If England can win at the Azteca under these conditions, it is tempting to say they can win anywhere.

Harry Kane scored the decisive penalty kick and England took the lead 3-2 with 10 men.

Thomas Tuchel’s team went against the wall but achieved generational victory at Azteca

Thomas Tuchel, Kane, Bellingham and the rest of the squad had arrived late on Friday night knowing that this country was the graveyard of England’s two current World Cup ambitions and that the only precedents for visits here included controversy and failure.

Their World Cup defense in 1966 ended there, and in 1970 they lost to West Germany in Leon by two goals. Here at the Azteca they were caught up in the genius and hypocrisy of Diego Maradona and his Hand of God goal in 1986.

And this was where many expected them to succumb once again. Mexico have lost just twice in 89 matches since the stadium opened 60 years ago. The arena became legendary, an outlier of passion, anger and tradition in a tournament where many matches were played in manicured monuments to wealth and sophistication.

There was altitude, there was heat, there was kick-off chaos, there was an hour’s delay, fans were setting off fireworks outside team hotels in the middle of the night, and here was an opponent who had not conceded a single goal in three games and had never lost a World Cup match. England beat them all.

And so, in the game’s magnificent cathedral, hallowed by the staging of Brazil’s devastation of Italy in the 1970 World Cup final and Maradona’s greatest triumph as Argentina defeated West Germany in the 1986 final, England exorcised the ghosts of what happened there 40 years ago and created their own special moment at the Azteca.

The start was delayed an hour due to the storm, sending the crowd into a greater frenzy than ever. In the seconds before kick-off they shouted ‘Si, si, si’ over and over again. The expectation was that Mexico would pounce on England in the first 20 minutes.

Tuchel had selected Bukayo Saka and Anthony Gorden to start wide but all thoughts of team selection were lost in the opening 50 seconds when Declan Rice was booked for trying to clear the ball but instead connected with Luis Romo’s face. It was a bad start.

The crowd was at a fever pitch and their team fed off of it. They passed the ball very well in the first minutes. The crowd was chanting ‘Ole’ at every pass, as if they were taunting a mad bull. Kane lost his composure trying to get the ball back after a Mexico foul. Azteca’s madness was reaching everyone.

England resisted until 10 minutes before half-time. Then a different chaos ensued and Bellingham unleashed it, scoring twice in 98 seconds. First Rice attacked to the right and gave the ball to Saka.

Saka beat his man and crossed to the back post, where Bellingham met him with a header a few meters out.

Mexico played its part in this 50-50 contest and eventually collapsed.

The stadium was stunned, but worse was to come for Mexico.

From kick-off England rushed Mexico again. Gordon, who had an excellent half, passed the ball to Kane who pulled the ball back into the penalty area where Bellingham made absolutely sure he got to the ball first and forced the ball over the line.

England was in heaven. For a moment it felt like the game had been won. It wasn’t. Two minutes before half-time England failed to clear Mexico’s free kick and Julian Quinones was quickest to react to the loose ball. He launched the ball high into England’s net. Azteca was alive again; It was louder and more passionate than before.

England was now besieged. Jimenez had a good chance and then turned and headed the ball past Pickford with a good save.

Cesar Montes then found the ball at his feet from a Mexico corner and looked certain to score until Bellingham denied him with a superb save.

Half-time seemed to come at the right time for England. Nico O’Reilly hit the post from the edge of the penalty area and England looked to be in the upper hand again. This game was too turbulent for something so simple.

Eight minutes after the break, Jarell Quansah started to make a sliding tackle on Jesus Gallardo. He took the ball but also caught Gallardo’s shin high. Gallardo was caught in the middle, but referee Alireza Faghani signaled for the game to continue.

The Mexican bench was furious. An argument broke out between the substitutes and the referee was then called to review the decision. He showed Quansah a red card.

Jarell Quansah received a straight red card in this challenge against Mexican Jesus Gallardo.

Quansah was distraught and that meant England had to hit the wall defensively.

There was joy and relief as Declan Rice (right) and Co. were finally able to celebrate.

There was still no time to breathe. Five minutes later Gordon put the ball over Raul Rangel and Rangel brought him down. It was a very obvious penalty. Kane took the ball and hit it into the corner of the net. It was his sixth goal of the World Cup.

Then another twist with 20 minutes left. Kane tried to clear the loose ball in the penalty area, but Erick Gutierrez got there right in front of him and Kane kicked the back of his leg instead of the ball. The referee went to the monitor once again and gave a penalty decision. Jimenez picked up the ball and although Pickford tried to change direction, the ball raced past him.

The crowd smelled of blood. They shouted for the equalizing goal. England held on. John Stones, Dan Burn and Djed Spence showed up. They all played like heroes at the back. The fourth official then held up a board indicating that the 11-minute period would be extended.

Some doubted England could hold out. However, this game consisted of about 15 heroes. Fifteen men who stood up when many expected them to fail. Fifteen men who would not bow to anything the Azteca threw at them. This week 15 men will travel to Miami for a spot in the World Cup semi-finals.