Talking points from Mexico win

All timer game 

In a World Cup which seems to be throwing up thriller after thriller, England v Mexico must be right up there. It had everything a football match could offer, and a huge crowd and a great atmosphere added to the occasion. It was certainly worth staying up for, especially after the game was delayed to 2am local time. It will go down as one of England’s greatest wins and will be discussed for years to come. The joyous scenes at the end of the game felt special, and there is a belief that England could go all the way. 

Elite players performing 

At this tournament so far, England’s key players have stepped up to the occasion. The quickfire Bellingham brace may have just reserved him a place in the starting XI for the rest of his career, and he is certainly a big game player. The 23-year-old is at the top of his game, and England are reaping the rewards. Harry Kane scored his penalty and assisted Bellingham’s second, as he moves up to six World Cup goals. Anthony Gordon was exceptional too, winning the penalty and seeming to run all game despite the tough conditions. It was a great shift from the entire team, as they became the first team to beat Mexico in a World Cup match at the Azteca. 

Pickford arrives 

Pickford had looked unsettled in the four games before this one, however he deserves all the praise in whatwasa superb goalkeeping performance against Mexico. He made three saves, five punches and one high claim as he commanded his box well and kept England in the game. Pickford was at the heart of a strong defensive core, which only switched off once for Julian Quinones goal late in the first half. Substitutes John Stones, Dan Burn and Djed Spence reinforced the back line, which did very well at the end of the game to repel Mexican attacks. Marc Guehi and Ezri Konsa showed their quality and added a physical side to England’s defending throughout the match. 

Tuchel shows tactical nouse 

It feels as if Thomas Tuchel was made for a game like this. He was tasked with devising a plan to see England through to the quarter finals, and he seemed to split the game into phases. The first phase was to contain Mexico, who like to start fast and get through to the first hydration break still in the game. The next phase was a lot more open, which saw the goals fly-in, and the final phase saw England switch to a five back to see out the game. Tuchel is an elite coach and seems to revel in knockout football and no doubt will be turning his attention to Norway, who the Three Lions face on Saturday.  

Onto Norway 

The upcoming quarter final sees England head to Miami to face the Norwegians, who impressively knocked out Brazil in the round of 16. It will be another test, but England can certainly win the game. Erling Haaland is the obvious danger and will need to be kept under wraps after scoring a brace against Brazil, which took him up to seven goals this World Cup.