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Tuchel, Kane, Bellingham and Pickford react after England beat Mexico in World Cup last 16

Thomas Tuchel, Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Jordan Pickford react after England beat Mexico in the World Cup last 16 thriller.

15 minutes in and what a save by Jordan Pickford, a massive hand to deny Raul Jimenez.

England went ahead on 36 minutes, Saka made his way down the right and sent in a superb cross to the far post, which met Bellingham left unmarked, and headed the ball into the back of the net to make it 1-0.

Then, Harry Kane set the ball up for Bellingham in the box, Jude struck home with his right foot to silence the Mexicans, but only briefly.

That’s because a free kick for Mexico fell to Julian Quinones, who smashed the ball into the top of the net.

Just before half time, Bellingham made another goal-saving tackle, and Pickford with quite the leap, a huge sigh of relief for the Three Lions, holding onto their lead going into the break.

England went down to 10 men. Jarrel Quansah sent off, a straight red on the 54th minute. Quansah got the ball but his foot was high, and got the ball with his left knee while also catching Jesus Gallardo high with his leading right.

Anthony Gordon was wiped out by Raul Rangel. Harry Kane stepped up for the spot kick, and made no mistake.

A spot kick was awarded after Kane, who looked to try and clear the ball, kicked under Brian Gutierrez’s foot. Raul Jimenez scored to reduce the gap, but couldn’t find that equaliser.

After 11 minutes of added time, the final whistle blew, and England began celebrating making it through to the quarter-finals, where they will play Norway after they knocked out Brazil thanks to two goals from Erling Haaland.

Goals:
Bellingham (36′, 38′)
Quinones (42′)
Kane (60′ pen)
Jiménez (69′ pen)

Harry Kane gave an interview to remember, telling BBC Sport: “It was a crazy game, we had to fight. I’ve just been singing there, can’t really talk.

”All the occasion, the team, everything against us, we found a way.

”Just look at them [the fans] here, incredible, unbelievable support. Speechless, I can’t even talk.”

On Brian Gutierrez, leading to Mexico being awarded a penalty: ”I thought I got to the ball first, it was one of those days that the ref gave a lot against us.

”In the end it didn’t matter so I’m happy.”

Thomas Tuchel said after the game, as per englandfootball.com: “I am very proud,” he said. “We needed everything. It was super difficult.

“In the moments we thought we could catch the momentum, we had setbacks. That is proper mentality. This team really mean it. When the going gets tough, they never give up, they never lose belief. It was one step more.

“We need to take this in. This is Azteca, it’s Mexico, a crazy game. We left everything out there, every single one of us. We need to take this in, now it’s full steam ahead.

“If a team has heart and a team has belief, on pure will. I have no words, an iconic match in an iconic stadium and we overcame so much adversity today. Full credit, very proud.

“Everyone is exhausted; everyone knows that it was a crazy match of football in a crazy atmosphere. We were up against all odds. Everything went against us and we just refused to give in.

“I think we can play much better; there’s a lot we can do better. There is still a disconnect from us and the best version of us that I see, to what we actually put on the pitch in terms of football performance, ball possession and finding spaces.

“There’s still a disconnect, but there’s no disconnect in commitment and doing what is needed to overcome anything that is thrown at this team; it’s a team everyone can be really proud of.”

On the officials, Tuchel added, as per Sky Sports: “It’s just not good enough. Referees are just not good enough. Fourth officials are just not good enough.

“It’s the bottom line. Is this a clear and obvious mistake for the penalty? For sure not, but VAR gets involved.

“They overturn a situation where he doesn’t even give a foul. Not good enough.”

Bellingham said after the match, as per englandfootball.com: “Hard to put it all together, really. With ten men, defending like we did around our box, and being clinical when we got into theirs in big pressure moments.

“Maybe in years gone by, and I know especially me watching as a fan when I was a kid, England would have crumbled. But this team stuck together right until the last second.

“The players who came on, the players who started, all of them running themselves into the ground, putting their bodies on the line. That’s what this team is about.

“At 2–1, the game was still very much alive, especially when they scored. The stadium felt like it had collapsed a bit at that point.

“It was probably as important as the goals. But this win is far bigger than me, it’s the players who came on, the ones who started, and the supporters who travelled and spent their hard-earned money.

“This is a team performance, and a whole country’s performance.”

Jordan Pickford told BBC Sport: “It was unreal. A lot of emotions, a lot of positives. We showed resilience, showed character. It wasn’t pretty at times.

“It just had everything that puts you on the edge of your seat; that’s what football’s about. It shows our togetherness, and it was a special night.

“I think you saw the standard I set myself tonight in producing saves in big moments, coming for crosses, it’s where I aim to be and keep improving.

“Big moments in big times, that’s where I am.

“I’m one of the most experienced lads in the group and when called upon you’ve got to roll your sleeves up. It was a great game for me, and that’s a standard in itself.”

Social media users gave their thoughts while Tuchel, Kane, Bellingham and Pickford react after England beat Mexico in the World Cup last 16 thriller…

@UpTheRs: THEY TOLD US WE COULDNT DO IT AT THE AZTECA!! WE DID IT WITH 10 MEN 🤣🤣🤣🤣 Not to exaggerated but that’s probably the best England game I’ve watched in my life time – absolutely unreal from the lads to dig in. Type of passion we’ve always wanted, bravo Tuchel.

@CallumHallett6: One of the GREAT England performances of my generation that, you could easily argue it’s the best. Every single player did their country proud tonight. Everything that went against them, they stood up too, pushed aside & defended their box w/ immense effort & desire. The two main men produced their moments again, as they always do. Jude Bellingham’s performance Vs Mexico in Mexico City will be remembered as one of the best. Mexico City. Vs Mexico. 10 men. No bother, England are in town. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

@HLTCO: I can’t get over that. I’m so fucking proud. The most emotion I’ve felt over an England game since Euro 96. I was 7 then. I’m 37 now. It’s incredible.

@edward_w97: If you’re going to keep me up past 4am for England, make it something as manic as that. Both loved and hated that in equal measure. Hugely pleasing to be on the right end of it. That’s one of the proudest England wins I’ve watched.

@Rory_Talks_Ball: This might be the proudest I’ve felt of an England team in my lifetime. The way we’ve gone there and dealt with absolutely everything thrown at us. Wow 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

@THFCHarvey18: What a fucking team. Showed some bollocks them last 30 minutes which I’ve not seen from an England side before. Absolutely unreal. What a fucking nation. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

@thomashammond__: Wow, just fucking wow. Unbelievably proud, best England game of my lifetime. Well worth the late night, get in. Our sport

@ConnorToland1: Whoever slept through this unlucky. That re run at 7am won’t feel the same!

@MattPB_: Absolute Herculean performance from every single one of them. So so so so proud of England. Might be an all timer tournament performance to hang on with 10 men and win in the Azteca. Get in!!!!! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

@TulsaLange: Now THAT was well worth staying up for! One of the greatest #England performances of all-time. One of the greatest Football matches I’ve ever seen. Every single one of those lads were absolutely exceptional. COME ON ENGLAND! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿❤️ #ThreeLions

@Yelllows4Life: had a tear in my eye watching england sing wonderwall, and now watching the nation celebrating again in the morning, the buzz, fills me with joy, happiness, i really hope the team know just how much impact they’re performance has had on us fans, the nation. i’m so tired, but so glad i stayed up to watch it in the early hours.

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