Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Radio France Internationale
Radio France Internationale
Sport
Paul Myers

England survive Azteca thriller to set up last eight showdown with Norway

Jude Bellingham scored two goals in England's 3-2 victory over Mexico.
Jude Bellingham scored two goals in England's 3-2 victory over Mexico. AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko - Natacha Pisarenko

England moved into a last eight clash with Norway after they beat Mexico 3-2 in a whirlwind game for the ages at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.

England head coach Thomas Tuchel said in the prelude to the match that the England players had to forget about an England team's last visit to the venue.

Then, Diego Maradona used wiliness and wizardry to undo England during Argentina's 2-1 win in the last eight of the 1986 World Cup.

One goal - using his hand to push the ball past the England goalkeeper into the net - fooled the officials.

The second goal was genius. Maradona waltzed through half a dozen of England's finest footballers to score what was later anointed the 'Goal of the Century'.

Forty years on and in a galaxy far, far away from such theatrics, Jude Bellingham opened the scoring for England in the 36th minute with a header past the Mexico goalkeeper Raul Rangel.

Less than two minutes later, Bellingham had bagged his and England's second goal - the first player to score twice in the World Cup at the Azteca since Maradona.

Mexico fight for life

But before half time, Julian Quinones halved the deficit.

He slammed the ball past the England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford after it bounced back to him just in front of the goal.

Nine minutes into the second half, Jarell Quansah was sent off tor a clumsy challgenge on Jesus Gallardo.

But despite the disadvantage, England increased their lead.

Rangel felled Anthony Gordon in the penalty area.

England skipper Harry Kane stepped up and thrashed the ball past him to registger his sixth goal of the tournament.

But six minutes later, Kane went from saint to sinner.

He clipped Brian Guttierez in the penalty area and Raul Jimenez swept his penalty kick past Jordan Pickford to make it 3-2 and set up a grandstand finale in front of a packed arena.

England survived the onslaught to reach the last eight for the third consecutive tournament.

“If a team has heart and belief then it’s this team," said Tuchel. "They did it on pure will. No words. Iconic match, iconic stadium, we overcame so much adversity.

"We just refused to give in on a level that is absolutely admirable.”

In the last eight, England will play Norway who saw off Brazil 2-1 on Sunday afternoon in East Rutherford.

Erling Haaland scored twice to take the Norwegians into the last eight for the first time.

Neymar, playing in his fourth World Cup, scored Brazil's goal in stoppage time.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.