England produced their best display of the World Cup amid the passion and emotion of the Azteca Stadium to secure a dramatic victory over Mexico and set up a quarter-final against Norway.
On a night of sheer sporting theatre, with the game delayed by an hour because of severe storms, Thomas Tuchel’s side even survived Jarell Quansah’s red card early in the second half to record one of their finest wins in recent years.
Mexico had lost only two of 89 competitive games at their Azteca fortress, but England’s cool approach early on allowed them to take command when the outstanding Jude Bellingham scored twice in the space of 98 seconds before half-time.
England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford was in superb form, twice saving brilliantly from Raul Jimenez, but he was powerless to stop Julian Quinones pulling a goal back for Mexico with a powerful finish three minutes before the break.
Mexico were being driven forward by a constant cacophony of sound, which increased when Quansah was sent off for a high challenge on Jesus Gallardo, but England restored their two-goal lead when Harry Kane scored from the spot after Anthony Gordon was brought down by keeper Raul Rangel.
Just when England thought they had restored order, Kane was the culprit when he kicked Brian Gutierrez’s foot in the area, Jimenez scoring the resulting spot-kick.
With England under pressure and in frantic atmosphere, Tuchel brought on Dan Burn and Djed Spence, reverting to a five-man defence to see out 11 minutes of stoppage time for a superb win.
England were well aware of what was awaiting them at this iconic sporting venue in a game labelled the biggest in Mexico’s football history.
Tuchel’s side were thrust into one of the most testing atmospheres in any arena, at altitude of more than 7,000ft, and produce a display of maturity, quality and grit that will give them huge confidence and belief.
England’s big performers delivered, especially Bellingham, who produced one of the great individual performances, not only with his two goals but an outstanding last-ditch tackle to deny Mexico defender Cesar Montes when he looked certain to make it 2-2 on the stroke of half-time.
Tuchel also deserves great credit for a gameplan in which England sat deep to take the heat out of Mexico’s fiery approach – although the hosts had them rocking as they were roared on by their fervent supporters.
As Mexico pressed in those agonising 11 added minutes, bodies were thrown on the line to see out a memorable triumph.
England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford has looked uncertain at times in this World Cup – especially when he was beaten at his near post early in the 2-1 win against DR Congo in the last 32 – but gave the finest performance of his international career when the pressure was at its highest in the Azteca.
Everton keeper Pickford was making his 17th World Cup appearance – equalling Peter Shilton’s record for the most in England men’s history – and showed exactly why he remains his country’s undisputed number one.
He dived to his left to save brilliantly from Jimenez’s header as Mexico pressed for an early goal, then showed great athleticism to dive high to his right to deny the same player as Mexico gathered a head of steam before half-time.
Pickford commanded everything that came into his area as Mexico pressed, especially in the closing seconds, in a display to savour.
