An incredible night when England heroes were made

A significant story is unfolding on the international scene. An incredible night when England heroes were made Figure caption, England win thriller against Mexico to reach quarter-finalsByPhil McNulty Chief football writer at the Azteca StadiumPublished38 minutes agoEngland's players dropped to their knees in sheer elation and exhaustion at the end of a performance fit for heroes as Mexico's great fortress of the Azteca was breached. On a spine-tingling night of drama, emotion and pure theatre in one of sport's most atmospheric arenas, England delivered one of their great World Cup victories. In fact, one of their great victories full stop.

Arguably their best since the World Cup was won at Wembley in 1966. And head coach Thomas Tuchel, who shook two-goal hero Jude Bellingham in sheer joy after the final whistle before the pair collapsed into each other's arms, had masterminded exactly the sort of win the Football Association had in mind when he was appointed. England won 3-2 to move forward to play Norway in the quarter-final in Miami on Saturday.

The Details

The scoreline alone barely touches the sides of a night that will never be forgotten by anyone who experienced it. Tuchel and his players have been presented with barriers from the moment they arrived in Mexico, from the Azteca's altitude of more than 7,000ft, the sheer noise and hostility they were confronted with here, the game delayed for an hour by storms, then Jarell Quansah's red card early in the second half. The World Cup quest continues.

This was an epic win on an epic night at an iconic venue. A win for the ages, simply because of the circumstance in which it was constructed. Mexico had lost only two of 89 competitive games at the Azteca before England won – and it is easy to see why.

Supporters lined the roads five hours before kick-off, the noise at kick-off was deafening, with some Mexico supporters in tears as they sang the national anthem. The cracks of thunder, flashes of lightning and the dark clouds over the Azteca as kick-off was delayed only added to the sense of unfolding drama. Into this cauldron walked England, questioned because of spluttering progress to the last 16 but about to show what they can be to their fans inside the stadium, as well as those glued to TV and radios in the early hours back home as the game stretched towards daybreak.

What Experts Say

England spent every reserve they had in these alien conditions high above sea level – all of which makes this the most memorable win of Tuchel's reign and one to stand alongside any in recent years. Former England captain Alan Shearer told Sport: "Those players have represented their country in magnificent form. Every single player had the right attitude.

"Everything that could have gone against them, everything that was thrown at them - the energy, the altitude - they have got past all of that and they deserved it. That is an incredible performance from start to finish. "They were sentiments echoed unanimously.

The story has become one of the most prominent items on the global agenda.