Star Metro - England's World Cup campaign takes flight with Mexico win

The occasion at the iconic Estadio Azteca had everything -- a delay due to severe storms, a hostile crowd and a red card for defender Jarell Quansah early in the second half.

But Thomas Tuchel's men mounted an astonishing rearguard action to win 3-2 and set up a quarter-final showdown with Erling Haaland's Norway.

Former England captain Wayne Rooney said the Three Lions had given a statement performance and could go all the way.

"This has shown we have a team who are capable of winning the World Cup," he said. "The belief this will give to these players is huge."

Alan Shearer, another ex-England skipper, said the win would give the side "belief that they can go on and do something in this competition".

England started the World Cup among the favourites but an underwhelming group stage tempered expectations.

They were then forced to come from behind to beat the lowly ranked Democratic Republic of Congo 2-1 in the round of 32, which set up the daunting encounter at the Estadio Azteca.

The visitors travelled to Mexico's fortress for Sunday's match knowing they were battling history, with much of the pre-game focus on the challenges of playing at high altitude.

The co-hosts, backed by a partisan crowd, were unbeaten in 10 previous World Cup games at the stadium and had only lost twice there in 89 competitive games.

England took the sting out of the match early and were 2-0 up courtesy of a quickfire Jude Bellingham double, though Julian Quinones pulled a goal back just before half-time.

- Rearguard action -

But the match utterly changed complexion early in the second half when Quansah was shown a red card for a high tackle following a VAR review.

Captain Harry Kane scored a penalty shortly afterwards to restore England's two-goal cushion and then gave away a spot-kick, which Raul Jimenez converted.

From then on it was one-way traffic as Mexico frantically searched for an equaliser against England's unbreakable five-man rearguard, supplemented by substitutes Djed Spence and Dan Burn.

The visitors had just 33.2 percent possession -- their lowest in a World Cup match on record since 1966.

A proud Tuchel -- handed the daunting task of winning England's first World Cup in 60 years -- hailed his exhausted men.

"We did it with pure mentality, with heart, overcame every obstacle that was thrown at us," he said. "I'm so proud of the mentality and the will of this team."

The German said such performances would not be possible if his team were not "glued together with the right spirit".

Bellingham, England's all-action hero, urged his teammates to believe in themselves, saying they should fear nobody.

"To be a part of an England team that gives so much to the country, that can give them these moments and nights like this means just as much as anything in my career and in my life really," said the Real Madrid midfielder.

Next, England face the unique challenge of trying to stop the marauding Haaland, who bullies defences week in, week out in the Premier League and is joint top in the race for the Golden Boot.

If they were to win that game in Miami on Saturday, they would face defending champions Argentina, Switzerland, Colombia or Egypt in the semi-finals.

If England make it all the way to the final in New Jersey on July 19, tournament favourites France could be lying in wait.

The Three Lions cannot boast the tournament-winning nous of Argentina or the deadly firepower of the French.

But in Kane and Bellingham they have two of the best players in the world and their team spirit could be their 12th man.

"I've been speaking about our team togetherness for a long time," said winger Anthony Gordon. "Now hopefully you'll believe me."

S.Clark--SMC