The Real Madrid star inspires a ten-man squad to a historic Azteca victory, overcoming a red card and altitude to set up a quarter-final clash against Norway.
Jude Bellingham hailed England’s World Cup win over Mexico as the best night of his international career.
England beat Mexico 3-2 in a dramatic World Cup last-16 tie at the Estadio Azteca, with Bellingham scoring twice before Harry Kane’s penalty ultimately proved decisive. Mexico fought back, England had to survive the second half with 10 men after Jarell Quansah’s red card, and Thomas Tuchel’s side now move on to face Norway in the quarter-finals in Miami
Bellingham’s emotion was unmistakable as he reflected on the night.
“Never been prouder,” Bellingham said. “Never been prouder of a group of lads, a squad, a nation.
“It felt like everything I’ve seen this week is the country behind us. All we’ve talked about this week is how difficult it’s going to be in an unbelievable atmosphere against a very, very good team.
“To get this win is the best night of my England career so far. For sure.”
The venue only added to the sense of occasion. England returned to the Azteca, a stadium forever linked to their World Cup story after the infamous 1986 quarter-final defeat to Argentina. Bellingham was asked if this win helped to heal those old wounds, but he was quick to keep things in perspective.
“They won it, didn’t they?” he said. “We’re still a few games away from kind of righting that wrong, but the focus has to be on the next game now.
“We’ve done something incredible tonight, no doubt about it, and we’ll enjoy it. We’ll sing songs until we lose our voices on the plane and whatnot, but we’ll have a couple of days recovering, then it’s straight back to business in terms of facing Norway.”
Bellingham’s quickfire double put England in command, only for Mexico to haul themselves back into the contest and turn the game into a frantic affair. Kane’s penalty ultimately proved decisive after England were reduced to ten men.
Yet Bellingham was keen to keep the focus on the team rather than his own heroics. When asked about the weight of responsibility he carries, he insisted the win should give belief to everyone in the squad.
“I’m aware of the responsibility,” he said. “I’m aware of the pressure that I carry along with all the other players.
“Make no mistake about it, we’ve got 26 lads there who could do exactly what I just did tonight. I’m convinced of it.
“I hope that a win like this can give them that same conviction that they’re top players and we shouldn’t fear anyone. We shouldn’t wait 40 minutes, 50 minutes, 60 minutes to realise that we’re a very good team.”
There was also a message for England fans back home after a late night watching the game.
“Text your bosses and tell them you ain’t coming in,” Bellingham joked, before speaking about what it meant to give supporters a night like this.
“I’ve been an England fan since I was seven years old,” he said. “To be a part of an England team that gives so much to the country, that can give them these moments and nights like this, means just as much as anything in my career and in my life really.”
Mexico made England work for every inch. Bellingham praised their quality, their spirit, and the electric atmosphere, calling it a pleasure to play on such a stage against a nation with a rich footballing tradition. He also noted England had coped with the altitude in Mexico City and now face a new challenge with the heat in Miami.
“You can’t win a World Cup without having to go through some big hurdles,” Bellingham said. “Hopefully we can face it with the same mentality.”
England move forward with momentum, a quarter-final against Norway on the horizon and Bellingham once again at the heart of a memorable night. By his own admission, nothing in an England shirt has come close to this.
