The energy was high this afternoon among Three Lions supporters. Photo / Dean Purcell
“So happy, so happy,” one fan told the Herald. “We got it, we’re confident. Football’s coming home.”
The mood did shift briefly when Jarell Quansah was shown a red card, leaving England to see out the match a man down.
But captain Harry Kane’s 60th minute penalty kick restored belief, and after a tense closing spell, England held out for a 3-2 victory – prompting jubilant scenes as fans danced to football anthem GALA’s Freed from Desire.
The result books England a place in the quarter-finals, keeping alive hopes of ending the nation’s long wait for another World Cup title.
Fans had paid for tickets to attend the near sold-out watch party, many arriving well before the scheduled kick-off despite the delay.
The highly anticipated Round of 16 clash at Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca had been preceded by concerns over England’s ability to adapt to the stadium’s high-altitude conditions.
England supporters erupted into celebration as Jude Bellingham scored twice in 99 seconds. Photo / Dean Purcell
Despite rumours the squad might use Viagra to help cope with the thinner air, Tuchel dismissed the speculation at a pre-match press conference.
“The information and the support didn’t reach me, so that’s not true”, he said.
The build-up was also heated, with Mexican fans filmed gathering outside the England team’s hotel on Sunday night before the Three Lions travelled to the stadium.
England last played at the iconic venue in 1986, when the World Cup quarter-final became infamous for Diego Maradona’s controversial “Hand of God” goal.
They will now face Norway in the quarter-finals on July 12, with The Fox expecting another packed house as fans dare to dream that football really might be coming home.