MEXICO CITY — On a day when Fifa’s corruption sank to a nadir, an Azteca epic restored football’s soul.
And what better way to finally lay the beast to rest. Forty years on from Diego Armando Maradona’s brutal assault on the English psyche, Thomas Tuchel’s own celestial being healed an entire nation, against all odds.
Jude Bellingham’s first-half double, given all the mitigating circumstances, somewhat even eclipses what Maradona produced at the Azteca in 1986. The overall team performance, under the most excruciating pressure and scrutiny, as monumental as anything since 1966.
For those fortunate to be present in this footballing cathedral, we will all remember where we were for decades to come. Where, for once, England came out on the right side of history.
The healing process started early. Mexico is a country that continues to wrestle with itself, whether its unrelenting fight with drug cartels or socioeconomic issues. Until their national team plays football.
Tuchel’s key players stepped up (Photo: Getty)Queues of green were lining up 10 hours before kick-off at the fanzone in Plaza de Constitucion, the processional Paseo de la Reforma a bustling metropolis in its own right. England supporters were lapping it up.
Even as the heavens opened, however, and a storm set in to delay kick-off by an hour, a pilgrimage to the Azteca could not be tarnished. To entertain the crowd during the delay, each nation got alternate songs. Interrupting the iconic Juan Gabriel, Oasis got the loudest jeer of the day – in case you were wondering which side of the Britpop debate Mexicans reside on.
The majestic sweep of the jaw-dropping Azteca must have felt like it was centimetres from England players’ faces as they boomed “y si si” upon kick-off – a burgeoning campaign of belief that Mexico can go all the way this summer.
The opening exchanges were pivotal, where England had to adapt to 25 per cent less oxygen in the air while battling to keep the fervour of the 80,000 Mexicans in the stands, baying for blood, under wraps.
Jordan Pickford’s save from Raul Jimenez was not quite Gordon Banks’ denial of Pele in Guadalajara in 1970, but his best stop of the tournament so far helped edge England to parity at the first quarter.
The ole’s quickly died down as England weathered the storm. They’ve faced a low block for much of the tournament, but silenced the Azteca with one of their own for the first half hour.
In 98 glorious seconds late in the half, Bellingham became the first player to score twice in a World Cup match since that fateful day 40 years previously. Both runs were timed with incongruous acumen, making a mockery of the altiJude to head home the opener and arrive right on cue for a quickfire second.
Bellingham scored twice inside a minute (Photo: PA)Back into the low block, only for Julian Quinones to quickly burst the barricades and awaken the Aztecan beast. England did well to hold on with the advantage until the interval, Bellingham making a heroic block down the other end.
Half-time pyrotechnics, even when losing, left a haze to add another layer to the intimidation. And England got lost in the fog after Jarell Quansah’s dangerous lunge earned him a straight red card, following a VAR review.
Before the Azteca could even fire up the revival, however, the effervescent Anthony Gordon, who put in his best display in an England shirt, won a penalty out of nothing, a spot kick Harry Kane lashed home with gusto.
Breathing normally 7000ft above sea level is hard enough, but this encounter had more twists and turns than a pretzel maker. Another VAR intervention, which spotted a foul by Kane, gave Jimenez the chance to get the hosts back in it from the spot.
Eleven minutes of added time. Not penalties, again. But with their lungs about to explode, somehow England held on.
Declan Rice leapt into the air. Bellingham dropped to his knees. The Mexican tears flowed. But, all respect to the hosts, who added to the scenes of euphoria with the most poignant It’s Coming Home booming out the stadium speakers since the anthem’s inception.
Kane and co even hurdled the barriers for Wonderwall. Winning this tournament now is more than a maybe.
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