England writes history with a hard-fought victory over Mexico
England beat Mexico in a spectacular match and reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup. Wayne Rooney praises the England team and speaks of one of the greatest English performances at a final tournament, partly thanks to strong performances by Bellingham, Kane and Pickford.
England writes history with a hard-fought victory over Mexico in
England secured a place in the last eight of the 2026 World Cup thanks to a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Mexico. In an intense match in Mexico City's iconic stadium, it was Wayne Rooney who described this English performance as 'one of the best World Cup performances ever'.England were on their toes from the first whistle. Jude Bellingham took his team by the hand with two quick goals to put England in a positive position. Mexico, however, did not give up: Julian Quinones brought his team back into the match with a goal shortly before halftime, keeping the game on the edge.
The tension increased further when defender Jarell Quansah had to be sent off the field nine minutes after the restart. England had to continue with one man less for more than half an hour. Still, the team showed resilience. Harry Kane converted a penalty on the hour mark, after Anthony Gordon was knocked down by Raul Rangel, to make it 3-1.
A second penalty – this time for Mexico – once again brought back the tension. Raul Jimenez took advantage of the opportunity after Kane fouled Brian Gutierrez, and with 20 minutes plus extra time to go, England came under heavy pressure. Especially in the final phase, the English defense had to endure a real rush, with Mexico seeking the English goal with countless crosses. Substitute Dan Burn and Ezri Konsa excelled by making six clearances each to hold their own under immense pressure. It was the highest number of clearances for England since the 1990 World Cup.
Rooney praised the character of the team afterwards: "The whole team was excellent, but the big names stood out. Pickford was a great goalkeeper and both the defense and midfield showed their real class. It was one of the greatest English World Cup matches ever in terms of mentality, fighting spirit and togetherness."
With this victory, England reaches the quarter-finals of a World Cup for the eleventh time - a feat that only Brazil and Germany have achieved more often. Remarkable: Mexico was undefeated in a World Cup (ten matches) until this match at their home base, the Estadio Azteca. England now have a meeting with Norway coming up. The England selection is hungry and ready for the next chapter on the global stage.
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