Thomas Tuchel was very proud of his players' performance, noting that the team maintained their fighting spirit despite the difficult situation.

England successfully eliminated hosts Mexico to advance to the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Cup. England manager Thomas Tuchel fully praised the team's performance, commending the players for their unwavering will and tenacious fighting spirit. Playing at home in the Aztec Stadium, Mexico could not stop England's advance. Thanks to Jude Bellingham's brace in the first half and Harry Kane's penalty, the Three Lions secured a crucial victory and marched proudly into the quarterfinals.  

In the 54th minute, England suffered a major blow when defender Jarrell Kwansa was sent off with a straight red card, forcing the team to play with ten men for the remainder of the match. However, the team withstood the continued pressure from their opponents and maintained their lead until the final whistle through tenacious defense.  

In a post-match interview, Thomas Tuchel praised his team's performance. He said, "I am very proud of the players' performance today. Everyone gave their all for this victory, and it was undoubtedly an extremely tough match. Just when we thought the game was starting to go our way, a new challenge would come, but the team never gave up, and that's the spirit of us."  

"This team put in their all in the game. Even when facing difficult situations, the players maintained their fighting spirit, no one chose to back down, and they always believed that they could win. Winning this game is another significant breakthrough for the team."  

“We should cherish and enjoy this moment. This is the Azteca Stadium, Mexico’s home ground, and winning a game like this is incredibly meaningful. It was a thrilling match, and everyone gave their all for the team. Now, we will celebrate this hard-won victory and then turn our attention to the next game.”  

"When a team remains steadfast in its beliefs and never gives up, it can overcome any difficulty. I find it hard to describe the players' performance today. This legendary stadium has once again witnessed an unforgettable game, and our team has withstood numerous challenges and persevered to the end. Every player deserves the highest praise, and I am incredibly proud of them."  

Despite leading England to the World Cup quarterfinals and achieving a breakthrough in his first major international tournament as manager, Thomas Tuchel believes the team still has room for improvement. He said, "By the end of the match, everyone was exhausted. It was a very fast-paced and intense game, and the atmosphere was amazing. We faced all sorts of difficulties, almost every disadvantage was presented to us, but the players never gave up and persevered until the very end."  

"I believe the team still has a lot of room for improvement. Our performance has not yet reached the ideal level. Whether it is the control of the game rhythm, the handling of possession, the utilization of space, or the overall execution, there is still room for improvement and enhancement."  

"However, in terms of attitude and desire to win, I think the team has done a great job. No matter what the situation, the players will do their best to achieve the best result. I believe that the spirit shown by this England team is enough to earn everyone's respect and pride."  

Image source: Internet/England National Team official website