England Triumphs at Azteca Despite Tuchel's VAR Fury
The thunderstorm was supposed to be the problem. It turned out to be the easy part.
An hour’s delay, crackling lightning over Mexico City, and then the Azteca roared to life. England walked into a World Cup last-16 tie that felt like a final, fought it with 10 men, and somehow staggered out with a 3-2 win and a place in the quarter-finals.
Thomas Tuchel called it “a heroic performance”. He also left a few choice words for the officials.
Tuchel fury as VAR takes centre stage
The game had already lurched through chaos when it tipped into controversy. Jarell Quansah, filling in at right-back, flew into a reckless sliding challenge on 54 minutes. Referee Alireza Faghani initially let play go, then went to the monitor after VAR’s intervention. The outcome was brutal and swift: straight red.
“It's just not good enough,” Tuchel told BBC Sport afterwards. “Referees are just not good enough. Fourth officials are just not good enough.
“Is this a clear and obvious mistake for the [Mexico] penalty? For sure not, but VAR gets involved. They overturn a situation where he doesn't even give a foul. Not good enough.”
The Australian official had already awarded England a clear penalty, then pointed to the spot at the other end after being sent to the screen again, this time to punish Harry Kane for a kick on Brian Gutierrez. Raul Jimenez beat Jordan Pickford to drag Mexico back into it and ignite a ferocious final 20 minutes.
The decision did not change the result, but it did change the mood. Tuchel simmered, the Azteca shook, and England had to defend their lead a man down, with altitude, noise and the clock all against them.
Quansah’s red now rules him out of the quarter-final against Norway. He will only return if England make the semi-finals.
Bellingham and Kane strike, Mexico hit back
The night had started with England slicing through the storm.
On 36 minutes, Declan Rice drove from deep, punching through Mexico’s midfield. Bukayo Saka took over down the right and picked out Jude Bellingham, who powered his header home to silence the stadium.
Ninety-eight seconds later, the Azteca was stunned again. From kick-off, England swarmed. Kane drifted into space and squared for Bellingham, who forced the ball in to double the lead and underline his status as the team’s driving force.
Mexico responded. From a soft free-kick on 43 minutes, the ball broke to Julian Quinones, who lashed in and dragged the hosts back into the tie. The noise surged. Just before half-time, Jimenez rose to meet a cross and Pickford flung himself high to his right, tipping the header over and preserving England’s lead.
The second half began with England threatening to kill it. On 50 minutes, O’Reilly stepped up from range and cracked a shot against the right post. The woodwork rattled; Mexico stayed alive.
Then came the turning point. Quansah’s dismissal ripped up Tuchel’s plan and forced England into survival mode.
Penalty drama and a siege in stoppage time
England still found a way to punch back. On the hour, Anthony Gordon – outstanding on the night – burst through and drew the goalkeeper into a clumsy challenge. This time the decision was simple. Kane buried the penalty, restoring a two-goal cushion and briefly quieting the cauldron.
The calm did not last.
Nine minutes later, VAR dragged Faghani to the monitor again. Kane had caught Gutierrez, and this time the call went Mexico’s way. Jimenez rolled in the penalty and the stadium sensed a famous comeback.
Tuchel reacted. On 74 minutes he switched to a back five, sending on Dan Burn and Djed Spence to reinforce a defence that now had to survive wave after wave of crosses. England retreated, Pickford commanded his box, and every clearance felt like a small victory.
The pressure kept building. In the 10th minute of stoppage time, John Stones almost undid it all, slicing the ball inches past his own post. The Azteca held its breath. England did too.
Faghani added 11 minutes, then seemed to stretch it further. “Even in the end it was 11 minutes and he gives another two corners to make it 12 minutes. Everything went against us,” Tuchel said.
When the whistle finally went, England’s players collapsed, arms aloft, lungs burning in the thin air.
“These are the moments in tournaments where you find a way to win,” Tuchel said. “This doesn't feel like a round-of-16 match, it feels like a final! The moment where the referee puts the whistle to his mouth, with 10 men, altitude against a home country... this is a moment of joy and a heroic performance and result.”
Azteca delivers an instant classic
The setting matched the story. The Azteca, soaked by thunderstorms and charged by a fervent home crowd, delivered the kind of spectacle World Cups promise and rarely produce.
“I didn't find it hostile, more cheering and emotional,” Tuchel reflected. “The national anthem was unbelievable.
“We were aware of that but we refused to give in. This team did it on pure will. No words.
“They did it in an iconic match, in an iconic stadium. We overcame so much adversity today. Full credit. I'm very proud. A crazy match in a crazy atmosphere, and we were up against all odds.”
England’s resilience has become their calling card. Level with Croatia, behind to DR Congo, now reduced to 10 men at the Azteca, they keep finding a way out. Tuchel himself called them a mentality monster, a group that refuses to fold when the pressure spikes.
When Burn was thrown on for his first minutes at a major tournament, he coped. When Mexico rained in crosses, Pickford came to punch and claim. Behind the grit, there is star power: Bellingham and Kane once again delivered when it mattered, with Gordon producing his finest England display at exactly the right moment.
Tuchel still sees flaws. He has spoken of a “disconnect” in performances, a sense that this team can play far better. That is a warning as much as a criticism. A side that looks this hard to beat, yet still has gears to find, is a dangerous animal in a World Cup.
Henderson scare mars ‘special night’
The only sour note came in the aftermath of victory. Jordan Henderson, celebrating at the final whistle, tumbled over the advertising boards and suffered a wrist injury serious enough to require oxygen and a stretcher.
“Not good. Jordan fell over and injured his wrist. It looks really bad,” Tuchel said. “It's a very special night. Mixed feelings because I'm exhausted and emotional, and sad because Jordan injured his wrist and is in hospital. It doesn't fit the evening that Jordan is not with us.”
The FA confirmed Henderson will remain in Mexico City with a member of England’s medical staff and will not travel back to Kansas City with the squad.
England, though, move on. A quarter-final against Norway awaits on Saturday, Erling Haaland looming large after his two goals dumped Brazil out of the tournament.
The Azteca has already given this World Cup one iconic night. If England keep refusing to lose like this, how many more might follow?
