England's World Cup week review: Bellingham inspires Three Lions to famous win in Mexico

In the early hours of Monday morning, Tuchel's side arrived at the 2026 World Cup with an exceptional back-to-the-wall performance to beat Mexico in the most intimidating atmosphere they will ever encounter.

It was one of the great England World Cup wins and they are back in a World Cup quarter-final - familiar territory. But how did Thomas Tuchel's side pull it off and what can we expect ahead of another stern test against Erling Haaland-inspired Norway?

What was said before the Mexico game?

It would be fair to say that Tuchel was trying not to give much away ahead of a massive test against Mexico in Mexico City. 

Tuchel did agree that the expectation in Mexico to attack and put pressure on England might well play into his side's hands. However, he did also admit that Mexico's home advantage couldn't be overlooked. 

"They have the home advantage. You play against Mexico in Mexico so you play against the whole nation. We play in an iconic stadium and we play in altitude so there is a lot of things we need to deal with and we will."

The underdog tag was one England were happy to embrace, with Marc Guehi telling FIFA: "We know they're a good team and they've got the fans on their side, so it'll be going into the cauldron. But it'll be a fun test.

"I'd say they're kind of favourites. They're at home and they know the environment a lot better. They haven't conceded so far and have got a perfect record.

Despite Mexico's incredible record at the Azteca, the 2018 semi-finalists and 2022 quarter-finalists were pushing it by saying Mexico were the favourites. It was a smart approach, however. It took some pressure off their shoulders, especially with the British media making a mountain out of the altitude situation (no pun intended).

All the pre-match talk worked in England's favour, and when it came to match time, Tuchel's side relished their more comfortable role as the underdog. 

Bellingham inspires England to historic win at the Azteca

If it wasn't already, the deafening Mexico national anthem ahead of kick-off made the scale of the task ahead for England very clear. They were about to play in a cauldron of noise and one of the most intimidating atmospheres of their careers. 

Mexico at the Azteca are a different beast from Mexico anywhere else, and in one of the biggest matches in their history, it was no surprise that Mexico supporters created an atmosphere more than fitting for such an occasion. 

For the opening 35 minutes of the game, England did a very good job (and one that can't be underestimated) at keeping Mexico relatively quiet and managing the situation. Not conceding an early goal when the crowd were at their loudest was crucial but could they now start creating chances of their own?

The answer from England's player of the tournament was emphatic. After a blistering England attack, Bukayo Saka's quick feet freed up space for a cross and the Arsenal winger provided a teasing delivery. Jude Bellingham timed his run perfectly to head England ahead from close range and stun the home crowd. 

90 seconds later and Bellingham doubled England's lead to silence the home crowd and put England in commanding control.

Dreamland. 

Despite their best efforts to shut Mexico out before the break, the home side did pull one back after a weak Ezri Konsa clearance fell to Julian Quinones inside the box, and he made no mistake with an exquisite volley that almost broke the net on its way in. 

The second half threatened to disappoint compared to the dizzy heights of the first half but that all changed when VAR ruled Jarell Quansah's two-footed tackle was a red card and all of a sudden England had to play over half an hour with 10 men.

A lesser team in such an intimidating atmosphere would have folded. England teams of days gone by would have. But this is a new England and this England, built by Gareth Southgate's cultural revolution, are warriors. 

Instead of letting the red card deter them and force them to sit too deep too soon, England still looked to create on the counter. They did it to game-winning effect just six minutes after the red card as Anthony Gordon did exceptionally well to run on to a Harry Kane through ball, take a vital touch past Raul Rangel in goal and wait for the contact that would inevitably come.

England had a penalty and Kane made no mistake from the spot, firing the ball into the top corner. 10-man England were 3-1 up, a crucial two-goal cushion in the circumstances. Mexico would pull one back after VAR awarded a controversial penalty and Raul Jimenez was never missing from six yards. 

However, Tuchel responded like a man who knows how to deal with high-pressure situations in knockout football. Djed Spence and Dan Burn were introduced with one simple job: defend for your lives and do everything and anything to stop Mexico from getting an equaliser.

It was a gamble because if Mexico scored, England would be left with no attacking threat and would be in big trouble. However, his players executed seeing the game out perfectly. Mexico rarely got a sniff and Burn, Stones and Spence all played crucial roles in frustrating the co-hosts. 

It was backs against the wall executed to perfection, so much so that even the great Jose Mourinho would be impressed. 

Every England player was prepared to put their body on the line and it was a heroic effort to get over the line against all odds.

And against the will of a nation that lives and breathes football, England were victorious.

They were heading to a quarter-final showdown with Norway. 

Analysis - Mexico win was one of England's greatest but the job isn't done yet

The manner in which England beat Mexico deserves huge plaudits. It was a win that had both a clinical edge in the key moments and the heart of a lion to deal with wave after wave of Mexico attacks in the second half.

It was one of the greatest England World Cup victories and whilst Bellingham's world-class performance deservedly took the headlines, this was Tuchel's day too. The England head coach silenced critics and proved why he was given the gig.

He was appointed from a position of strength with solid foundations built during the cultural revolution of the Southgate era. Tuchel's job was to make the big decisions in the big moments and make the bold calls that Southgate was often guilty of shying away from. 

Tuchel proved with his game plan against Mexico that he is a level above Southgate from a tactical standpoint. His tactical tweaks and personnel changes at crucial moments are exactly why he was appointed. Tuchel is one of the best in the business and has a knack for finding ways to win in knockout football. Doubt him and this England team at your peril. 

However impressive the victory in Mexico was, the big tests have just started. Up next is an Erling Haaland-inspired Norway on Saturday night and Tuchel's Three Lions must now move their attention to the next stop on their journey to end 60 years of hurt. It is hard to say it will be more difficult than facing Mexico at the Azteca but there are more expectations now. 

England are favourites once more after their best performance of the tournament and they must embrace it. If Tuchel's side have serious ambitions of winning this tournament, then dominating Norway and keeping the dangerous Haaland quiet are non-negotiables.

Mexico was one of England's greatest wins but this Saturday needs to be a complete performance. Press high from minute one and pen Norway in, getting the ball to their superstars Bellingham and Kane as much as possible.

An early goal has to be the aim and just like at the Azteca, if they smell blood, then we can't see the pragmatic approach that was the sword Southgate fell on. Expect Tuchel's England to go in for the kill and put the game to bed before Haaland can have his say. Because at the 2026 World Cup, Haaland has inevitably had his say when the game has been in the balance, and it has only ended one way.

This isn't a new England; there has been no Tuchel revolution. Yet now that they are at the business end of a major tournament, their opponents face a different beast than the one slayed by Croatia, Italy, France and Spain in tournaments gone by.

Tuchel is a winner and unlike Southgate, he will aim to be the one doing the slaying and, with it, take England to new heights.

Boldness can be seen as naive but it takes such bravery to get anything great in life. After all the years of hurt, Tuchel must block out all the outside noise and take what England deserves.