Germany’s Tuchel brings out the English bulldog spirit

England’s players celebrate after winning their 2026 World Cup round of 16 football match against Mexico at the Mexico City Stadium in Mexico City on July 5, 2026. (AFP pic)

PETALING JAYA: The big dogs kept falling. First, it was four-time winners Germany. Then the three-time finalists, Netherlands. And, earlier today, the biggest dog of all, champion breed and five-time winners, Brazil.

Hammered by a Viking warrior and going out with a snarl. But a German coach found the bulldog spirit in England to mastermind an epic survival.

The portents were ominous. The underdogs had the momentum at this World Cup and England just had to be next. England always find a way to lose.

Lucky to beat DR Congo and avoid one of their greatest football disasters, they were also lucky to beat Ghana. Unconvincing against lowly Panama, they’d only been decent for a purple half hour against Croatia.

Dodgy at the back, dependent on Harry Kane up front, missing creative players left at home, you wondered why their fans were paying thousands to go and watch them.

If the Congo game had us already writing up the great England disasters until the 76th minute, this would be different.

Losing to Mexico in the Azteca is nothing to be ashamed of, but it was getting harder and harder to see an English victory.

Raul Jimenez scores from the penalty spot in the 69th minute to narrow England’s lead to 3-2 in the match which was delayed by extreme weather conditions. (AFP pic)

When the draw was made, the prospect of meeting Mexico for a quarter-final place would have looked inviting. England had won six of their nine meetings.

England are ranked 10 places above the hosts. According to Fotmob, 21 players in the England squad are valued higher than the top Mexican. On paper England were favourites.

But while the Three Lions had only fleetingly roared, the hosts were flying. They won all their matches and had not conceded a goal.

In front of their own fans, they’ve always been formidable. Now they looked invincible.

The Azteca Stadium has always been daunting. Now it’s terrifying.

Then there’s the altitude – 2,240 metres. Experts say athletes need three weeks to adjust. England would have 48 hours.

Never at their best in the heat, and with the ghost of Diego Maradona still haunting them, the odds shifted. England were no longer favourites according to many good judges.

England had a weakness at right back; Mexico’s star, Julian Quinones, is a left winger. He would be licking his lips.

Two of England’s best players, Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka were nowhere near fit. You could keep going: the hallmarks of defeat kept piling up.

They weren’t even going to get a night’s sleep as the Mexican fans planned to keep them awake all night.

England’s head coach Thomas Tuchel was animated throughout the encounter which saw his side, reduced to 10 men in the 54th minute, cling on for a famous victory. (EPA Images pic)

The England FA even assured manager Thomas Tuchel he would keep his job if they lost. Not much of a vote of confidence.

But then came a storm and a delay. Rain and cold – English conditions – but it couldn’t dampen the excitement or sense of dread.

But England had something else, something new – a top manager.

Instead of safety-first Gareth Southgate, they hired Germany’s Tuchel, a proven winner at Chelsea, Bayern and PSG.

He’s clever, no-nonsense, and positive.

Under him, could they finally break this unenviable record of self-destructing deep into tournaments?

This sort of game was why he was hired. And whatever they’re paying him, it worked. He’s changed the mentality.

Former Mexico head coach Juan Carlos Osorio said that for England, the game would be a battle between attitude and altitude. And Tuchel’s men rose to the heights.

From somewhere, they summoned the spirit of the 1966 heroes to hang on heroically with 10 men for almost the whole never-ending second half.

Credit goes to the entire squad of warriors but also to Tuchel for bringing that confidence to attack and get the platform they would valiantly cling to when the Mexican onslaught came.

A fighting spirit to brush off a sending-off and a penalty award when lesser men may have wilted.

The Azteca became the Alamo on a frenzied, furious but famous night.

Against all odds, altitude, hostility, and then being a man short, this has to go down as one of England’s finest couple of hours.

Besides the killer blows they inflicted in the first half, keeper Jordan Pickford produced his own crucial double – with two world-class saves.

Jarell Quansah (26) of England reacts after receiving a red card during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 soccer match between Mexico and England, in Mexico City, Mexico, 05 July 2026. (EPA Images pic)

He couldn’t stop Quinones’ rocket into the roof, but he commanded his area with his vital punching and courageous saves.

A tentative start saw Mexico on top. But in a lightning double strike, England were suddenly 2-0 up.

Jude Bellingham with two quick first half goals and a Harry Kane penalty gave England the foundation for a hard-fought battle in the ill-tempered Round of 16 match. (AFP pic)

Smash and Grab 2.0. Just 99 seconds separated Jude Bellingham’s two goals that silenced the Stadium.

It was a scarcely believable scene thanks to opportunistic strikes by Jude Bellingham.

Pickford, who had been criticised previously, produced his greatest game for England when it was needed.

Tuchel rang the changes, bringing on fresh legs. Always decisive, always positive. His players took their cue from him and survived to tell the tale.

And what a story it was!