England’s run to third place at the World Cup has left Thomas Tuchel with a lasting memory from Mexico City: not the final standings, but the resilience his players showed while holding on for a 3-2 last-16 victory at the Estadio Azteca.
Tuchel draws strength from Azteca night
Spain lifted the trophy after beating Argentina and added a second World Cup star to their shirt, while England finished ahead of France in third. Yet for Tuchel, England’s defining evening came against one of the tournament hosts, when Jarrell Quansah’s dismissal left his side to defend their lead in a hostile stadium.
The England coach said the occasion had been so powerful that he later messaged a friend with an unusual regret: he wished he had eaten some grass from the Azteca pitch, simply to keep a piece of the experience with him forever.
“That was how it felt,” Tuchel said, reflecting on the value of winning in one of international football’s most imposing arenas.
He described the match as an encounter containing everything a coach could want from his team: pressure, adversity and evidence of the bond within the squad.
Henderson injury brought squad together
Tuchel highlighted the moment Jordan Henderson fell and broke his arm during the match. England’s celebrations stopped almost immediately as teammates gathered around the midfielder, forming a protective circle and remaining close to him.
“Within seconds, every player was there,” Tuchel said. “They stopped celebrating, made a shield around Jordan and protected him. They showed complete empathy. It was very special.”
For the German manager, that response offered a clearer measure of England’s progress than the third-place finish alone. He believes the World Cup has given him a squad foundation to carry into the next major assignment.
“I feel they are my players now,” he said. “It is a good base to build on. I am very excited. I think we have taken another step and achieved it already.”
England will now turn towards the Nations League break, with world champions Spain due at Wembley. Beyond that meeting, Tuchel’s attention is already fixed on the 2028 European Championship, to be staged across Britain.
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Thomas Tuchel says Mexico win shaped England’s road to Euro 2028
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Thomas Tuchel reflects on England’s dramatic 3-2 World Cup victory over Mexico, Jordan Henderson’s injury and the squad bond he hopes to take into Euro 2028.
