England rise in Mexico's Azteca cauldron to write own remarkable script

It was exhaustion, it was relief, it was sheer joy to be on the winning side of a World Cup classic at an imperious venue steeped in narrative.

England have beaten better teams, they won the biggest game of all in 1966, but this Jude Bellingham-inspired 3-2 last-16 victory goes down as one of the greatest.

The Three Lions certainly didn't have it all their way – nor did they expect it to.

Aside from the demons of Diego Maradona's 'Hand of God', the word 'altitude' was the talk of the town pre-game.

The preamble was so fixated on the Azteca's elevation of more than 7,000 feet above sea level and whether England's stars could cope with the conditions.

Mexico's daunting record of just two defeats in 89 competitive outings there was the biggest obstacle to navigate and the stipulations didn't end there.

Kick-off was then delayed by storms, they had to deal with the deafening atmosphere of the Mexican fans and faced the nightmare scenario of playing the second half a man down.

Jarrell Quansah's red card – which should in theory be suspended given FIFA's latest antics – was the latest episode of Thomas Tuchel's right-back headaches.

The odds appeared to be stacked against England before and during the affair, but the players and Tuchel refused to be fazed.

There were some doubts about England's capacity here, though, after a relatively tame group stage and forced recovery act against DR Congo in the last 32.

Yet there was something different in the air at Mexico's footballing Mecca.

Bellingham – as he always seems to do on the grandest stages – stepped up to the plate once again, or technically twice.

The Real Madrid superstar just has that knack for being in the right place at the right time with two in as many first-half minutes to put England in dreamland.

Goals are good, but there was so much more to his performance that was commendable as England prepared for a Mexican siege.

After Julian Quinones got one back before the break, Bellingham stopped an almost certain equaliser with a textbook last-ditch clearance.

It was a fine margin that could have had big consequences later on given the chaos that was about to unfold after half-time.

Quansah's dismissal elevated England's nerves, Harry Kane reduced them by drilling in from the spot, only for them to be brought back when Mexico netted a penalty themselves.

Mexico were down and probing – they had to as the home team – but Bellingham and his boys dug in right to the very end.

Jordan Pickford's form has come under the microscope, more so for his actions for DR Congo's goal last time out, but he too puffed out his chest.

The Everton man, who equalled Peter Shilton's record 17 World Cup appearances, made two flying first-half saves to deny Raul Jimenez with England level then leading.

Barcelona's new signing Anthony Gordon worked relentlessly and showed no signs of the thin air affecting his running ability.

The former Newcastle winger never stopped going up and down that left flank and his efforts earned England that vital penalty.

And a moment of appreciation for Tuchel's game management, for keeping England streetwise when it could have quite easily gone south.

A necessary tweak of system and more defensive substitute introductions of John Stones, Dan Burn and Djed Spence will have made supporters nervy.

Could England really drop deeper and shut Mexico out? The answer was yes.

Stones chucked his body on the line to bundle a 100th-minute Mexico chance away, Spence made a key in-box challenge and the altitudinal Burn seemed to win every ball launched at him.

That is why England have leaned on a tactician like Tuchel to intervene, to make those big decisions and engineer something when the pressure is really on.

His squad selection for this World Cup came under major scrutiny with some of the names he left at home, but maybe this will quieten any doubters.

Nothing has been won yet, and the serene Tuchel will no doubt keep reminding his players of that as they wind down on a dramatic, energy-sapping Mexican night.

But it's a statement, a landmark moment that should provide an immense boost when England's heroes turn out in Miami for the quarter-finals against Norway.

Sponsored content

Watch the World Cup 2026 live on ITVX via Prime Video here - live coverage, highlights, and analysis.