TUCHEL HAILS ENGLAND'S 3-2 MEXICO WIN AS 'LIKE WE WON A FINAL'

England manager Thomas Tuchel described his side's 3-2 victory over Mexico as feeling "like we won a final" following the Round of 16 match. Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane and Anthony Gordon scored as England progressed to the quarter-finals to face Norway. The match saw England play for 40 to 50 minutes with ten men after a 54th minute red card, with Mexico awarded a penalty during the contest. The fixture extended into 11 minutes of injury time, with kick-off delayed by a thunderstorm that saw English fans remaining awake past 4am local time.

Tuchel, announced as Gareth Southgate's successor in 2024, told reporters the buildup had not felt like a standard knockout fixture. He characterised the England performance as "heroic" given the altitude conditions and the status of Mexico as the home nation. The manager reflected on the preceding days, during which the England camp adjusted to local conditions whilst external disruptions occurred outside their hotel. Tuchel stated the experience ranked "at the very highest level" for him.

Tuchel offered praise for Mexico and their supporters, describing the country and stadium as "amazing" and the atmosphere as "special". He said overcoming the challenge "against all adversity" held particular significance for the England squad. England will face Erling Haaland's Norway in the quarter-final on Saturday, according to Tuchel's statement to the press conference.