10-man England survive Mexico fightback to seal 3-2 World Cup win in Mexico City

England survived a second-half storm to beat Mexico 3-2 at Mexico City Stadium on Sunday, advancing to the World Cup quarterfinals despite playing the final stages a man down after defender Jarell Quansah was shown a red card following a VAR review.

Jude Bellingham was the standout performer, scoring twice as England built a lead that would prove just enough. Mexico were awarded a penalty — also via VAR, after it was ruled that captain Harry Kane had fouled midfielder Brian Gutierrez — and converted to make it a nervy finish, with El Tri dominating possession throughout the second half with the numerical advantage.

Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford made crucial saves to preserve the result, while England’s outfield players threw themselves into blocks to repel wave after wave of Mexican pressure. The win sets up a quarterfinal meeting with Norway at Miami Stadium on Saturday.

Former England striker and television analyst Peter Crouch, who earned his last cap 16 years ago, was pitchside for the occasion and embraced several players after the final whistle, including a jubilant exchange with Kane. Crouch had earlier led England supporters in a rendition of Oasis’ “Don’t Look Back In Anger” from the broadcast set before kick-off in the rain, and the post-match celebrations brought another Oasis sing-along — this time “Wonderwall” — as players and fans marked the result together.

“It was intense,” Crouch said after the match. “I think that was one of the great England wins there. Mexico came out with everything they had — with pace and precision. It was so difficult to hold them off. When you’ve got a man down in this kind of atmosphere, and you work as hard as the boys did today, putting their bodies on the line and making blocks — Pickford made saves when he had to. We were also a threat, even with 10 men. There were so many heroes today, and I genuinely think that will go down as one of the great England wins.”

England now face Norway in the last eight as they bid to win a first World Cup since 1966.