World Cup 2026: An incredible night where England’s heroes were made

As Mexico’s great Aztec fortress was breached, England’s players fell to their knees in exhilaration and exhaustion as they completed a display fit for heroes.

In one of the most spine-tingling drama, emotion and pure theater in a sporting atmosphere, England won one of its greatest World Cups.

In fact, a full stop of great victories. In the year Arguably their best since the 1966 World Cup at Wembley.

And head coach Thomas Tuchel, who shook his two-goal hero Judd Bellingham in delight after the final whistle before the pair crashed into each other, was exactly what the Football Association had hoped for when he was appointed.

England won 3-2. to advance to play Norway in the quarterfinals in Miami on Saturday. The scoreline alone will touch the sides of the night no one will forget.

Tuchel and his players have faced obstacles from the moment they arrived in Mexico, from 7,000 feet above the Azteca, the loud noise and hostility they faced here, the game was delayed for an hour by a storm, and then Jarrell Quansah’s red card early in the second half.

Everyone wins. The quest for the World Cup continues.

It was a superb victory at a spectacular venue. A win for the ages, simply because of the way it’s made.

Before England’s win, Mexico had lost just two of their 89 competitive games – and it’s easy to see why.

Fans lined the tracks 5 hours before kick-off and the kick-off noise was deafening, with some Mexican fans breaking down in tears as they sang the national anthem.

Cracks of thunder, flashes of lightning and a dark cloud over Azteca only added to the sense of unfolding drama as the start was delayed.

We got drama. And then some.

England go into this bowl because of their passage to the last 16, but what will happen to their fans in the stadium, as well as those who are glued to the television and radio back home as the game goes into the dawn.

England spent every reserve it had on high ground – a memorable triumph of Tuchel’s reign and one that could stand on either side in recent years.

“These players represented their country beautifully, every player had the right attitude,” former England captain Alan Shearer told BBC Sport.

“Everything that could have happened to them, everything that was thrown at them – the energy, the height – they went through it and they deserved it. It was an amazing performance from start to finish.”

They were sentiments echoed in unison.

With 11 agonizing minutes added to these surroundings to beat 10 players, to the point of frustration, that just shows how good it was.