Thomas Tuchel vows to ‘keep pushing’ as England survive a wild night in Mexico
Thomas Tuchel and England are heading to a World Cup quarter-final. Pic: Nick Potts/PA
Thomas Tuchel vowed go “full steam ahead” in England’s quest for World Cup glory after their “one of a kind” togetherness secured a heroic 3-2 triumph on a night of adversity in Mexico.
Having topped Group L and dug deep in the round-of-32 turnaround against the Democratic Republic of Congo, the back-to-back European Championship finalists overcame altitude, hostility and a second-half red card in memorable fashion.
Jude Bellingham’s quickfire brace was followed by a Julian Quinones strike and Jarell Quansah’s sending off in Sunday’s chaotic last-16 encounter at the electric Estadio Azteca.
Harry Kane scored a spot kick and then gave away a penalty converted by Raul Jimenez, with Tuchel’s 10 men holding firm to give those in attendance and the night owls at home an evening to cherish.
“I just want to say thank you,” Tuchel said. “If you stayed up and sent us your energy, I just want to say ‘thank you’.
“Because if they think we don’t feel it, we feel it. We feel it 100 per cent.
“There is so much to love about this team. They should just keep pushing, pushing and pushing.
“We will go now full steam ahead. We get two recovery days, and we will go and use this energy to keep pushing and stay in the tournament.”
England’s reward for knocking out co-hosts Mexico is a World Cup quarter-final against Brazil’s conquerors Norway at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
Erling Haaland and Co will provide tough opposition on Saturday, but Tuchel’s “special group” head to Florida having shown the attitude to match their undoubted aptitude.
“There are a lot of lessons, of course, on a football level,” the England boss said. “But the biggest lesson is that this team has a heart and a mentality and a togetherness that is one of a kind.
“I think that our fans here and our fans in England can be so proud, and I think they are proud. This is not possible if you’re not a group that really means it.
“If you’re not glued together with the right spirit, then this isn’t possible. And we made it possible against all odds, and we’re very proud of that.”
England flew straight back to their Kansas City base after the match, although Jordan Henderson remained in Mexico City for assessment on a wrist injury sustained during the celebrations.
The group will begin gearing up for Norway on Wednesday, with a potential semi-final against Argentina far from Tuchel’s mind even after avenging Diego Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ on their return to the Azteca.
“I will not talk about the semi-final,” the England boss said.
“Now we have the chance for some days off. I tell you something: I will not re-watch our match, and I will not watch anything about Norway in the next 24 hours.
“I will do one full day without football and then we will think about Norway, and then we will think ahead.
“We will take it step by step. There is no other way. I agree, we had a very sad history with the stadium, so we made peace today.
“I just heard from your colleagues what the record was in World Cups from Mexico in this stadium.
“We know what it takes to beat Mexico in the Azteca in a World Cup, we know what it takes to score three goals against the team who didn’t concede a single goal until now. We’re not thinking about semi-finals.”
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