England’s Three Lions swept to victory on the crest of a Mexican wave today after a nerve-wracking roller coaster match which saw millions of fans pull an epic all-nighter.
They beat the World Cup hosts 3-2 at their home Azteca Stadium in Mexico City in one of the most thrilling games of modern times.
Thomas Tuchel’s side’s heart-stopping triumph sets them up for a quarter-final showdown against Norway in Miami on Saturday.
As millions of Brits stayed up until gone 4am for the final whistle, employers are being warned of a ‘mass sickie’ – encouraged by none other than England’s golden boy Jude Bellingham.
After scoring two of his side’s three goals and collecting his player of the match award, he advised England fans to ‘have another shot and text your bosses to say you’re not coming in tomorrow’.
It came after companies were warned to expect a productivity hit as Britain prepares for the ‘mother of all Mondays’ recovering from the night before.
But fans were adamant the headaches are worth it after Sunday’s last-16 clash nixed the demons from England’s last outing at the Azteca 40 years ago when Diego Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ goal broke the nation’s hearts at the 1986 World Cup.
In the seething cauldron of the world’s greatest football arena, the roar from 62,000 fanatical Mexicans was as spine chilling as it was ear-splitting.
Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham celebrate after Bellingham’s second goal against Mexico during the last-16 clash at the Azteca stadium on Sunday night
England’s Three Lions swept to victory on the crest of a Mexican wave today after a nerve-wracking roller coaster match which saw millions of fans pull an epic all-nighter
England football fans celebrate their team’s historic victory at a fan zone in Manchester in the early hours of Monday morning
Megan Pickford and Kate Kane celebrate Jude Bellingham’s goal against Mexico
England fans celebrate in central London after their side’s 3-2 victory against Mexico
But Bellingham’s brace of goals within two minutes of each other set the game alight and sent the 18,000 England fans in the stadium wild.
Then the Mexicans went wild when their reply came a few minutes later to take the score to 2-1 and their fans launched their beer, cups and anything else to hand into the air.
In the second half, Jarell Quansah got a red card and became the first England player to be sent off at the World Cup since Wayne Rooney in 2006, taking England down to ten men.
But then Harry Kane scored a penalty to make it 3-1, only to gift Mexico a penalty a few minutes later.
The Mexico team have played ten World Cup matches at their home stadium since 1970 and never lost any of them. They had not conceded a single goal this whole tournament – until Kane and Co came to town. Mexico hadn’t suffered three goals against them in a match since 1999.
The stadium is 2,240m above sea level and there was concern about the altitude, but Tuchel’s men seemed unaffected. As well as having the advantage of always playing at home, Mexico officials made sure every seat in the 80,824-capacity stadium last night was equipped with a Mexico flag to wave.
The explosive atmosphere of the match was heralded all afternoon by almighty claps of thunder. Before the game started, the stadium went into its lightning lockdown mode and kick-off was delayed by an hour.
England got off to a bad start in the first half with a yellow card in the opening minute for Arsenal’s Declan Rice after a high boot clipped Luis Romo on the head.
There were howls and whistles from the partisan Mexican crowd as Rice went in the book with the referee setting out his stall early.
England were happy to keep possession for the opening exchanges and although unlikely to silence the baying mob they were able to contain Mexico.
But there was a heart stopping moment 15 minutes in when Jordan Pickford had to make a lightning reaction save form a Raul Jimenez diving header.
England fans gather at BOXPARK in Wembley as they await kick-off, which was pushed back to 2am due to thunderstorms
Two England fans in Newcastle gear up in the early hours of Monday for the tie with Mexico
Bored and tired England fans at Ultra Warehouse Derby brave the early hours as they prepare to watch England play against Mexico
Fans celebrate following a screening of the FIFA World Cup match between England and Mexico at Boxpark Wembley
England fans pack into a fan zone in St James’ Park, Newcastle overnight on Sunday
It was sheer brilliance and more than made amends for his error at the near post against Democratic Republic of Congo in the previous match.
Barcelona bound Anthony Gordon who started the match also impressed after an indifferent couple of group games.
The hydration break was met wit the customary boos from England fans but the atmosphere was electrifying as every Mexican touch was greeted with oles and the Three Lions were jeered.
A brave and valiant attempt by the 5,000 England fans behind Pickford to break into a chant was quickly drowned out by the crowd.
But it was the men in white who were cheering when Jude Bellingham scored England’s first when Rice and Saka had combined to provide him with a diving header in the 36th minute.
It didn’t silence the crowd but it temporarily quietened them and England fans were in delirium when Bellingham scored again two minutes later.
However they were back in the game just before half-time when Julian Quinones converted a free kick – but the England defence were able to see out the first half.
After half-time, jubilant scenes broke out again at the 60-minute mark when Harry Kane scored England’s third goal of the match after Anthony Gordon won a penalty.
Fans in Boxpark Wembley and supporter zones across the UK cheered ecstatically and threw their pints in the air after determinedly staying up into the early hours.
It came after the crowd had been quietened minutes earlier when defender Jarell Quansah was sent off following a VAR check over a high tackle.
Jude Bellingham heads the ball past Mexico’s goalkeeper for England’s first score of the match
England captain Harry Kane celebrates with teammates after the final whistle at the Azteca Stadium
England manager Thomas Tuchel reacts after the final whistle secured the side’s place in the quarter-finals this weekend
England’s camp go wild as they celebrate a goal from Bellingham in the first half
Kate stunned in a white custom halter neck football shirt embossed with her husband Harry’s surname in red lettering
England fans dressed up as lions pose for photos during the match against Mexico
The mood dipped again when Mexico reduced the deficit to 3-2 through a Raul Jimenez penalty after Harry Kane was adjudged to have committed a foul in the box, following a VAR check.
But after an agonising 11 minutes of extra time in the second half, the final whistle signalled England’s return to the quarter-finals of the tournament before fans in Mexico spontaneously broke out into a rendition of Sweet Caroline.
After collecting his player of the match award Bellingham advised England fans to ‘have another shot and text your bosses to say you’re not coming in tomorrow’.
Asked how he thinks supporters are celebrating back home, he added: ‘I can imagine it’s carnage. No matter where you’re from or what you do I can imagine everyone is together.
‘That is the thing I dream of being a part of this England squad, bringing my country together, giving them nights like this that they will enjoy for many years to come.
‘I am so proud of this team. What we have done tonight is spectacular.’
Elsewhere Kane had lost his voice by the time of his post-match interview, but revealed that celebrations for some players had been rather too enthusiastic – with Jordan Henderson requiring medical attention after injuring his arm.
All-in-all the Three Lions put in a gutsy performance – including some breathtaking saves from goalkeeper Jordan Pickford after being reduced to ten men – to counter at times relentless pressure from the tournament’s co-hosts.
England’s Anthony Gordon is brought down by Mexico goalkeeper Raul Rangel, winning his side a penalty
Harry Kane scores a penalty for England in the 60th minute of his side’s last-16 match against Mexico
Raul Jimenez of Mexico scores a penalty against England in the tie overnight on Sunday
England’s Harry Kane (left) celebrates with former player Peter Crouch following victory in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16 match
Jubilant fans celebrate England’s win against Mexico in central London in the early hours of Monday
England fans celebrate England’s win over Mexico in London’s Piccadilly Circus
WAGS Kate Kane and Megan Pickford were in the stadium to celebrate with their husbands, after Kate earlier posed in a custom corset with her man’s name printed on the left side.
Megan, who is married to goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, threw her arms in the air in the first half as Jude Bellingham netted two goals in two minutes to put England comfortably in front – as she sported a white poncho to protect her from the rain.
Kate, the partner of Harry Kane who scored a penalty after the half-time break to bring England’s goal count to three, was also seen beaming in the row behind.
Moments after the final whistle, the Prince of Wales, who is the patron of the FA, sent his wellwishes to the team, writing on X: ‘Well done England! Bring on the quarter final!’
With the game wrapped up shortly after 4am, millions of Brits have pulled an exhausting all-nighter and are expected to be absent from work and school on Monday.
Employers are bracing for a ‘mass sickie’ while some schools are allowing children to arrive as late as 11am without being marked as late.
Speaking at a watch party in Wembley, northwest London, Lorcan Finn, from Devon, said he had already taken the day off work to stay up for the early-hours kick-off.
The 22-year-old engineer said: ‘I think it’s stupid not to take the day off, unless you work from home.’
Harry Becks, 27, from Ruislip, west London, also said there’s ‘no chance’ he will go to work on Monday, adding: ‘I already booked the day off.’
Matt, 27, from Richmond, south-west London, who was at the fan zone with his father Terry, 62, from Preston, is also taking annual leave on Monday.
His father Terry said: ‘I’m older, I do not work. I will wake up tomorrow at home, if I’m not dead!’
‘Hangover Monday’ could cost the economy millions as workers either fail to show up or spend today being unproductive.
Remote workers pulling an all-nighter joked they will just be moving their mouse at work on Monday.
Experts have warned of the dangers of driving or doing physical work while exhausted.
Dr Sophie Bostock, from the sleepscientist.com, said: ‘If you’ve been awake for 24 hours and you’re planning to just ‘push through’, your reaction time slows by over 50 per cent.’
Six million staff – almost one in five employees – have taken annual leave, three times more than usual, industry sources said.
In Mexico City, hundreds of thousands of fans are expected to take to the streets following the last-16 showdown.
Police deployed 7,500 officers to the Azteca Stadium and 6,000 more to the city centre in the biggest operation ever seen for an England football match.
It comes after a million people crowded around the Angel of Independence statue in the city centre after Mexico’s match against Ecuador last week, with four people dying in the crush.
