World Cup WC 2026: R16 - Mexico v England

[Scotchegg]

Team over egos. It was great to see everyone fighting for each other and putting their bodies on the line.

Kane and Bellingham get the headlines, but Pickford and the defence were incredible until the end.

 

[Joey]

I absolutely have an argument about the penalty.

It absolutely wasn't. It's not given anywhere else on the pitch.

It's soft but Kane has kicked their lad in the box and not touched the ball. I think it would be given elsewhere and I'd fully expect a penalty if it were the other way round. I suppose the argument is it's not a clear and obvious error from the ref in the first place but it's a foul for me.

 

[Billyox]

Looks like Henderson will be out for the rest of the world cup carried off on oxygen

 

[The Voice Of Reason]

Best match of the WC for me. Had it all goals, defending, drama, handbags, passion, end to end

Credit to both sides.

Tho I'd have had Rodgers on earlier and with 5-10 left it cried out for Watkins or more so Toney..

 

[Joey]

Imagine if we go through all of that and then get knocked out on Saturday by a bloke from Leeds.

 

[Foley]

Superb performance.
Bellingham absolutely outstanding.
Gordon made such a difference.
And Spence, Burn, Stones did really well coming on.
Fantastic

 

[Billyox]

Imagine if we go through all of that and then get knocked out on Saturday by a bloke from Leeds.

That is the problem when it was 11 v 11 it suited us as Mexico wasnt sitting deep Norway will more than likely sit deep with a low block and thats where England struggle braking teams down

 

[bicesterox]

If the ref had been stronger and stopped the Mexicans surrounding him, complaining, delaying everything we might not have had to endure 11+ minutes added on

But what a performance overall, team to be proud of

 

[m]

It's soft but Kane has kicked their lad in the box and not touched the ball. I think it would be given elsewhere and I'd fully expect a penalty if it were the other way round. I suppose the argument is it's not a clear and obvious error from the ref in the first place but it's a foul for me.

We'll have to disagree.

Textbook 50:50 nothing in it.

 

[Joey]

We'll have to disagree.

Textbook 50:50 nothing in it.

Fair enough. Don't agree with the 50:50 argument in general though, you can break someone's leg with a 50:5 challenges. Obviously no danger of that here but having the right to go for the ball doesn't excuse you of you don't get it and catch the man instead.

 

[GreenMachine]

Beautiful agony

 

[tonyw]

Reckon that was probably the best England World Cup performance of my lifetime (born '78).

To win against the hosts in that stadium in that atmosphere, playing with ten men for the last forty minutes.....just sensationally gutsy backs-to-the-wall stuff. Mexico don't have England's talent, but they are a well-oiled machine and we held them off.

Pickford was immense; Gordon was immense; Bellingham is simply a difference maker (who was it on here who was describing him at the most overrated earlier in the tournament?).

Now we've got to make sure there's no let-up in focus on Saturday. This time we won't be at a competitive disadvantage from the conditions or the atmosphere (it's going to be two sets of pasty fans turning pink in the Miami sun) but, to state the bleeding obvious, we haven't faced two players as good as Haaland and Odegaard yet this tournament.

Also, have to say it does feel like Tuchel is a level above any other recent England manager in terms of tactical acuity. We've not always been great this tournament....but (unlike most England managers in the past forty years) the subs and tactical changes he makes do seem to improve things almost without exception.

 

[tonyw]

Wonder if Quansah's suspension will get suspended.

Well no - because unlike Balogun, he actually deserved his red card.

 

[Marked Ox]

Can we get that red card removed like the USA player has had?

Need to get the King to call Infantino whilst William makes a public statement saying something needs to be done.

 

[Marked Ox]

Superb performance.
Bellingham absolutely outstanding.
Gordon made such a difference.
And Spence, Burn, Stones did really well coming on.
Fantastic

Pickford was fantastic with the saves but also when he went for crosses in the last quarter or so of the game.

 

[Marked Ox]

Well no - because unlike Balogun, he actually deserved his red card.

That doesn't really wash though as others with harsh reds still served suspensions unlike Balogun. One player even got a 5 game suspension iirc.

For clarity, Quansah deserves a suspension for the challenge but that can't be used as a justification why it shouldn't be suspended for the reason above. FIFA have made this rod for their own back and this will be put forward for every red card.

 

[Didcotox]

I think VAR got the decisions correct.
Def sending off.
Soft penalty, but a penalty none the less.
The game suited us, in that we are a better team when we are counter attacking. The sending off made it a different game but the players come out of that with a lot of credit.
Norway will be a tougher opponent than Brazil for the reason @Billyox makes above. They will sit deep and we will have to break them down. Not our strong point as demonstrated in three of our five games thus far.
Anyway, off to work with no sleep!

 

[tonyw]

That doesn't really wash though as others with harsh reds still served suspensions unlike Balogun. One player even got a 5 game suspension iirc.

For clarity, Quansah deserves a suspension for the challenge but that can't be used as a justification why it shouldn't be suspended for the reason above. FIFA have made this rod for their own back and this will be put forward for every red card.

Personally I think all the red cards so far in the tournament have been justifiable*, except Balogun's - the Mexican one in the first game was the harshest.....but it was still a purposeful professional foul.....just one where there was probably a covering defender, so it probably should have been yellow.

The Sithole, Muharemovic, Ahmed, Ngoy and Sulaka reds were all no-doubt, last man denying a goal scoring opportunity challenges. The Canobbio red was a last minute "I'm going to ****ing maim someone on the way out" horror challenge (and it wouldn't really matter if you lifted the suspension for that one). The Almiron and Hincapie reds were for covering their mouths while abusing someone (maybe a silly rule, but it is a rule). And Zwane slapped a dude.

Meanwhile, Balogun's contact was purely accidental - he wasn't even looking at the guy he landed on awkwardly.

(*I can't really comment on the second Qatar one, as they never showed a replay in the feed I was watching because the Canadian dude's leg break was so hideous)

Any time a player is unjustifiably sent off for the rest of the tournament, then yes - there is now precedent for them to not serve a suspension.

Doesn't apply to Quansah, sadly. He was just a numpty.

 

[JerryL]

Another game that had me stop watching a few times to do nervous laps around the house but good Christ that performance had some balls to it
Thats the kinda game i want to see, none of this regulation 2-0 against a team we should be beating, a proper gutsy game
Knackered now, that 11 added minutes minus'd 11 years off my life

Can someone get us a cup of ovaltine an tuck us in, cheers

 

[Whingit]

Tuchel really showed his worth tonight, we would never have held on under Southgate. You can tell how he got the "tucheliban" nickname, tactically spot on, subs spot on. Probably the most memorable England game of my lifetime.

 

[Bitter]

It's soft but Kane has kicked their lad in the box and not touched the ball. I think it would be given elsewhere and I'd fully expect a penalty if it were the other way round. I suppose the argument is it's not a clear and obvious error from the ref in the first place but it's a foul for me.

Never a penalty, Kane clearly plays the ball.

 

[Basham Wonderland]

Tuchel really showed his worth tonight, we would never have held on under Southgate. You can tell how he got the "tucheliban" nickname, tactically spot on, subs spot on. Probably the most memorable England game of my lifetime.

Agreed, Southgate would never have got anything from that.

 

[Whingit]

Never a penalty, Kane clearly plays the ball.

Yeah, but he missed it. If the ref gave it fair enough, but I don't think it was an obvious error in not giving it so whatever the ref decided should have stood and VAR shouldn't have got involved.

 

[Didcotox]

Yeah, but he missed it. If the ref gave it fair enough, but I don't think it was an obvious error in not giving it so whatever the ref decided should have stood and VAR shouldn't have got involved.

I think clear and obvious is no longer a thing with VAR. Certainly not for the WC but not sure about the premier league. they mentioned it in the commentary when Shearer said it.

 

[Steve Gilbert]

Personally I think all the red cards so far in the tournament have been justifiable*, except Balogun's - the Mexican one in the first game was the harshest.....but it was still a purposeful professional foul.....just one where there was probably a covering defender, so it probably should have been yellow.

The Sithole, Muharemovic, Ahmed, Ngoy and Sulaka reds were all no-doubt, last man denying a goal scoring opportunity challenges. The Canobbio red was a last minute "I'm going to ****ing maim someone on the way out" horror challenge (and it wouldn't really matter if you lifted the suspension for that one). The Almiron and Hincapie reds were for covering their mouths while abusing someone (maybe a silly rule, but it is a rule). And Zwane slapped a dude.

Meanwhile, Balogun's contact was purely accidental - he wasn't even looking at the guy he landed on awkwardly.

(*I can't really comment on the second Qatar one, as they never showed a replay in the feed I was watching because the Canadian dude's leg break was so hideous)

Any time a player is unjustifiably sent off for the rest of the tournament, then yes - there is now precedent for them to not serve a suspension.

Doesn't apply to Quansah, sadly. He was just a numpty.

Let’s hope Trump gives his mate a call today and Quansha gets to play on Saturday.

 

[Swaby39]

What a game. My eyes are burning like a jelly fish sting as I sit down for work this morning but that’s one of the best games of football you’ll see anywhere, and by far the best England game I can remember. International football is pretty dull stuff in the main no thanks to UEFA/FIFA but that was a real advert for it and isn't it nice to be on the right side of some history for a change. The nation should be buzzing this morning.

Individually we were excellent and the way Tuchel navigated that game was enough to justify his appointment in one evening. Bellingham the star man (can't believe anybody had a dislike for him) but I don't think we had a poor player right through to the subs who were all immense.

The red card was really unlucky - it was a challenge he had to make. We certainly need to make a point of appealing for a deferment just to expose FIFA for what they are. They'll without doubt say no, which will bring them in to some disrepute and get people publicly challenging them. I hope we do. One of the highlights of the evening was the front-on shot of them all huddled together in misery with England 2 ahead - as impartial spectators wanting the most entertainment, they should've been on the edge of their seat, surely???.... They looked like grounded teenagers.

Anyway, all about us today. I don't think anybody will want to play us from here.

 

[unification]

Reckon that was probably the best England World Cup performance of my lifetime (born '78).

To win against the hosts in that stadium in that atmosphere, playing with ten men for the last forty minutes.....just sensationally gutsy backs-to-the-wall stuff. Mexico don't have England's talent, but they are a well-oiled machine and we held them off.

Pickford was immense; Gordon was immense; Bellingham is simply a difference maker (who was it on here who was describing him at the most overrated earlier in the tournament?).

Now we've got to make sure there's no let-up in focus on Saturday. This time we won't be at a competitive disadvantage from the conditions or the atmosphere (it's going to be two sets of pasty fans turning pink in the Miami sun) but, to state the bleeding obvious, we haven't faced two players as good as Haaland and Odegaard yet this tournament.

Also, have to say it does feel like Tuchel is a level above any other recent England manager in terms of tactical acuity. We've not always been great this tournament....but (unlike most England managers in the past forty years) the subs and tactical changes he makes do seem to improve things almost without exception.

World Cup Post in thread 'World Cup haters thread'

8 Jun 2026

Jude Bellingham finished 3rd in the Ballon d’Or eighteen months ago and most people thought he was unlucky. He’s World Class (though granted, he might not play!)

I’m not sure how many defensive midfielders I can name that are better than Declan Rice…..so in my book, that makes him World Class too.

So that makes three. More than Argentina had last time when they won the thing. Alexis MacAllister was their second best player in 2022!

You don’t need World Class players in every position to win this thing. You need some stars and everyone else to be well coached and know what they’re...

• Mad Dog

• 

Hehehe ...

 

[dickwalton1964]

Looks like Henderson will be out for the rest of the world cup carried off on oxygen

That could actually work in our favour as it makes a decision for us. Henderson shouldn’t really be out there. That game last night was at a frantic pace and it’s only going to get quicker and more intense, in those circumstances he’d weaken us immeasurably. It’s alright dishing out token caps v Panama but France. Argentina, Spain etc would over run us with him in there.

 

[dickwalton1964]

Bellingham has had a great WC but I don’t think fans questioning his worth prior to this WC were wrong. He had been underwhelming for England for a fair while and by all accounts his club form wasn’t great either. Absolutely stepped up though and one of the players of the tournament. No fan crowing with a ‘told you so’ could have predicted this level of performance given his last 12-18 months.

 

[Billyox]

That could actually work in our favour as it makes a decision for us. Henderson shouldn’t really be out there. That game last night was at a frantic pace and it’s only going to get quicker and more intense, in those circumstances he’d weaken us immeasurably. It’s alright dishing out token caps v Panama but France. Argentina, Spain etc would over run us with him in there.

He was only taken as hes good in the changing room as you could see in later stages of the game he was urging them on from the sidelines.
Not really sure why they didn't just add him to the backroom team and give the place to a player who would play more