If England are to win the World Cup, they may look back on Sunday night at the Azteca Stadium as the moment they proved it was possible.
Fuelled by two goals from Jude Bellingham and a captain’s penalty from Harry Kane, England emerged from one of the fiercest examinations the tournament can offer with a stirring 10-man 3-2 victory over co-hosts Mexico.
And when the game descended into chaos, they found another way to win.
Reduced to 10 men with the Azteca crowd sensing blood, England were forced into a desperate rearguard action. Mexico attacked in waves, laying siege to the England goal.
But every player in white dug in, chased, blocked and battled for their lives.
Bellingham was the symbol of England’s grit. Already the architect of victory with two goals, he lunged to clear what seemed a certain Mexican goal off the line late in the first half.
Kane supplied the composure from the penalty spot. Declan Rice walked a disciplinary tightrope for most of the match on a yellow card, while goalkeeper Jordan Pickford delivered one of the finest performances of his England career, producing a series of outstanding saves.
“I can’t put it into words right now … the goals, the penalty against, the penalty for, the red card,” Bellingham said. “It was a chaotic game.
“It felt like a full squad performance. It felt like we had 26 players. Every time we cleared the ball, when big Dan Burn (a late substitute), smashed his head off one and cleared it up the pitch, you could see all the subs on the sideline up, all the staff, the fans got behind us in the stadium.”
The scale of the challenge should not be underestimated. (Reuters)
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