Mexico 2-3 England: Highlights, man of the match, stats as Jude Bellingham drags Three Lions into World Cup quarter-final

England qualified for the quarter-finals of World Cup 2026 after a 3-2 triumph implicit Mexico astatine Estadio Azteca successful what is apt to spell down arsenic the crippled of the tournament.

Javier Aguirre's broadside tried to enactment unit connected their opponents aboriginal successful the contest, but the Three Lions stood firm, adjacent if they had to rely connected Jordan Pickford to contradict Raul Jimenez.

Thomas Tuchel's men yet recovered a breakthrough connected the antagonistic done Jude Bellingham, who headed location the opener aft an fantabulous chipped transverse from Bukayo Saka, earlier bagging a second conscionable 98 seconds later, assisted by Harry Kane.

However, Mexico pulled 1 backmost via Julian Quinones, who rifled a volley beyond Pickford, and El Tri closed retired the archetypal fractional with a barrage of chances raining down connected the Three Lions' extremity - Bellingham adjacent prevented an equaliser with a superb clearance.

The 2nd play saw stand-in right-back Jarrell Quansah sent disconnected for a unsafe tackle connected Jesus Gallardo conscionable 9 minutes in, though Kane dispatched a punishment to springiness England immoderate breathing country astatine precocious altitude.

When Jimenez responded successful benignant for the World Cup co-hosts, firing past Pickford from the spot to halve England's lead, Tuchel decided to instrumentality a antithetic approach, bringing connected Dan Burn and switching to a five-man antiaircraft setup.

The Three Lions commendably held retired with 10 men contempt a fig of scares, reaching the past 8 of the World Cup, wherever they volition fastener horns with Erling Haaland's Norway.

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SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT

This topsy-turvy circular of 16 necktie volition spell down arsenic 1 of the top World Cup clashes of the modern era, and it was besides a crippled of firsts.

England became the archetypal squad to people against Mexico astatine this summer's tournament, the archetypal to bushed El Tri successful a World Cup crippled astatine the Azteca (and the archetypal wide astatine the crushed since 2013).

Tuchel's broadside person rightfully been criticised for their inability to interruption down debased blocks, but Mexico were much unfastened to the benignant of counter-attacking, carnal shot that England deploy, and the uncommon moments that Bellingham, Gordon, Saka and Kane had to spell guardant proved decisive.

That being said, England volition request to beryllium importantly amended if they are to assistance the trophy, fixed that El Tri - portion a valiant hostile - are acold from the strongest federation astatine World Cup 2026, and a striker arsenic objective arsenic Haaland could sound the Three Lions retired successful the adjacent round.

Meanwhile, Mexico volition beryllium hugely frustrated with the information that they ran England adjacent lone to autumn agonisingly abbreviated against 10 men, acknowledgment successful ample portion to their ain mistake - giving distant a penalty.

However, the co-hosts showed what they are susceptible of connected the satellite stage, and leaving the tourney astatine the circular of 16, the aforesaid clip arsenic the legendary Estadio Azteca, is simply a respectable result.

Gilberto Mora besides became the second-youngest subordinate to ever commencement a WC knockout crippled (only down Pele), and if Mexico tin proceed to nutrient talents connected the 17-year-old's level, past the aboriginal looks agleam for Aguirre's side.

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MEXICO VS. ENGLAND HIGHLIGHTS

Jude Bellingham extremity vs. Mexico (36th min, Mexico 0-1 England)

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 6, 2026

Pickford collects the shot from a Mexico transverse and lays it disconnected to Rice, who finds his Arsenal teammate Saka further forward.

Saka dribbles down to the touchline connected the close flank earlier clipping a transverse towards the backmost post, wherever Bellingham is waiting to caput the opener into an bare net.

Jude Bellingham extremity vs. Mexico (38th min, Mexico 0-2 England)

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 6, 2026

Gordon gets the shot to Bellingham 35 yards out, and helium plays Kane done connected the close flank.

Instead of shooting, the striker cuts a debased transverse backmost to Bellingham, who taps location England's second!

Julian Quinones extremity vs. England (42nd min, Mexico 1-2 England)

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 6, 2026

Roberto Alvarado swings a escaped footwear into the box, and the shot falls kindly to Quinones successful the aftermath, who is capable to lash a volley precocious into the net. Game on!

45 + 3 mins: Jordan Pickford (England) save

Pickford has kept England successful front, redeeming a Jimenez header destined for the apical country amidst a flurry of El Tri chances.

45+4 mins: Jude Bellingham (England) goal-saving clearance

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 6, 2026

Not contented with being England's leader astatine 1 end, Bellingham reacts quickest to contradict Cesar Montes a definite goal.

Mexico flick a country connected towards the centre-back, who takes a interaction and is astir to marque it 2-2, lone for the Three Lions midfielder to scope the shot first.

54th min: Jarrell Quansah (England) reddish card

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 6, 2026

Harry Kane extremity vs. Mexico (Xth min, Mexico 1-3 England)

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 6, 2026

Kane knocks a agelong shot down to Gordon, who is caught by Mexico goalkeeper Raul Rangel and is awarded a penalty.

The England skipper dispatches his spot footwear with powerfulness into the bottom-left corner!

Raul Jimenez extremity vs. England (69th min, Mexico 2-3 England)

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 6, 2026

Kane kicks the underside of Brian Gutierrez's limb and aft a VAR review, the referee points to the spot.

Jimenez steps up with the unit connected and fires location into the bottom-left corner. El Tri propulsion 1 back!

90+12 mins: John Stones (England) clearance

Amidst question aft question of Mexico attacks, John Stones's clearance trickles terrifyingly adjacent to the post, but thankfully rolls retired for a corner.

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MAN OF THE MATCH - JUDE BELLINGHAM

The Real Madrid midfielder opened the scoring by getting connected the extremity of a counter, earlier adding a important speedy occurrence second.

England lone won by a azygous extremity astatine the extremity of a chaotic contest, and Bellingham's clearance successful first-half stoppage clip provided captious successful sending the Three Lions through.

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MEXICO VS. ENGLAND MATCH STATS

Possession: Mexico 67%-33% England

Shots: Mexico 20-6 England

Shots connected target: Mexico 5-5 England

Corners: Mexico 12-2 England

Fouls: Mexico 14-7 England

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BEST STATS

Absolutely deadly from the spot! ???????? pic.twitter.com/MQw78otUU9

— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) July 6, 2026

Jarell Quansah is the archetypal England subordinate to beryllium sent disconnected astatine the FIFA World Cup since Wayne Rooney successful 2006 against Portugal ? pic.twitter.com/9nHNemNc2c

— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) July 6, 2026

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WHAT NEXT?

England volition look Haaland's Norway connected Saturday successful a quarter-final clash astatine Miami's Hard Rock Stadium.

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