{"id":251629,"date":"2026-07-06T05:44:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-06T05:44:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/07\/06\/weve-been-waiting-poms-go-crazy-over-world-cup-win-for-the-ages-as-prodigy-silences-critics\/"},"modified":"2026-07-06T05:44:00","modified_gmt":"2026-07-06T05:44:00","slug":"weve-been-waiting-poms-go-crazy-over-world-cup-win-for-the-ages-as-prodigy-silences-critics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/07\/06\/weve-been-waiting-poms-go-crazy-over-world-cup-win-for-the-ages-as-prodigy-silences-critics\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018We\u2019ve been waiting\u2019: Poms go crazy over World Cup win \u2018for the ages\u2019 as prodigy silences critics"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has declared that the Three Lions can win the World Cup, while fellow past players and pundits took aim at Jude Bellingham\u2019s doubters after England\u2019s wild 3-2 victory against Mexico<\/a> on Monday.<\/p>\n

England will face Erling Haaland\u2019s Norway in the quarter-finals, but first they will spend a few days celebrating this victory in the Old Dart.<\/p>\n

Get all the latest football news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now ><\/a><\/b><\/i><\/p>\n

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Pubs and living rooms erupted in the early hours of Monday morning as Bellingham\u2019s brace, a Harry Kane penalty and a Jordan Pickford masterclass guided England to the final eight.<\/p>\n

For most of the contest, England fans were in a state of panic with Jarell Quansah\u2019s red card forcing them to hang on for dear life, a man down, for the better part of 45 minutes.<\/p>\n

When VAR intervened to send off the Bayern Leverkusen defender it felt like history might be repeating itself for England.<\/p>\n

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RECKLESS England tackle results in red | 00:30<\/p>\n

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Their World Cup dreams were dashed at Mexico City\u2019s iconic Estadio Azteca in 1970 and 1986.<\/p>\n

First, their campaign was disrupted by World Cup winning captain Bobby Moore being arrested in the Colombian capital of Bogota before the tournament began as he was accused of stealing a diamond bracelet from a jewellery store.<\/p>\n

Then goalkeeper Gordon Banks missed the quarter-final loss to West Germany with a mystery illness.<\/p>\n

It led to theories that he was poisoned by the CIA as Brazil, who had been experiencing domestic issues under an American backed regime, went on to win the tournament.<\/p>\n

Sixteen years later, Diego Maradona\u2019s infamous \u2018Hand of God\u2019 sent England packing as Argentina won that quarter-final 2-1 before going on to win the tournament.<\/p>\n

Millions of English were certainly thinking that Quansah\u2019s studs up challenge might be the catalyst for a third disastrous act in their Mexican World Cup humiliation ritual.<\/p>\n

But Thomas Tuchel\u2019s side holding firm with all that history sitting on their backs, meant the Round of 16 clash will go down in English folklore for all the right reasons.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat happened out there was one of the great England performances,\u201d The Telegraph\u2019s<\/a> Sam Wallace wrote.. <\/p>\n

\u201cAt 7,350 feet with their lungs burning and their muscles aching, the 11 men of England and then the ten men of England beat a fervent football nation on their own patch.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEngland lived on the edge for what seemed like an age but this time England survived,\u201d Wallace added.<\/p>\n

READ MORE<\/b><\/p>\n

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\ufeffSmoking gun behind \u2018strange\u2019 56-year FIFA backflip… as furious rivals slam \u2018April Fool\u2019s joke\u2019<\/a><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

The legion of English journalists inside the 80,000 seat Azteca could hardly believe what they had witnessed across a contest that was delayed by an hour because of lightning in the area, and lasted almost two hours in total given all the added time.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a mad game in a mad stadium in a gloriously mad city,\u201d The Telegraph\u2019s<\/a> chief football correspondent Jason Burt wrote. <\/p>\n

\u201cAnd England and Tuchel can take so much credit from how they handled it. This was a result and a performance for the ages, the kind of transformative performance that can lead to… well, let\u2019s not get too carried away.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFile it as England\u2019s finest World Cup knockout phase victory since 1966,\u201d The Guardian\u2019s<\/a> David Hytner wrote. <\/p>\n

\u201cThere have not been a huge number of them; only nine previously, each a gripping drama in its own right. Yet it was the context of this one that set it apart.\u201d<\/p>\n

While the journalists stopped short of blowing the lid off completely, Rooney had no such hesitation.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was one of the greatest results, performances. They showed attitude, grit, desire, everything you would have wanted an England team to show they showed tonight,\u201d the former England striker said on BBC One.<\/p>\n

\u201cGoing down to 10 we knew it was going to be difficult. They sat in and I was worried that we went too deep too early, but they put their bodies on the line. The centre-backs and Pickford were outstanding.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were the better team until the red card and then we showed a lesson in heading the ball out of the box, blocking shots, just brilliant.\u201d<\/p>\n

Then, Rooney delivered the kicker.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis has shown we have a team who are capable of winning the World Cup,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe belief this will give to these players his huge.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rooney found an ally in the Premier League\u2019s all-time leading goal scorer.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been waiting for England,\u201d former England striker Alan Shearer said on BBC One.<\/p>\n

\u201cBefore today\u2019s game they had probably only had that one good half against Croatia. There were moments and pieces of brilliance from Kane and Bellingham, but the performance tonight was pretty much perfect.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere was so much talk of everything that they had to face tonight, the altitude and so on, and they have dealt with that. They have dealt with other knock backs too. <\/p>\n

\u201cThis was a standout performance, a performance that can carry them forward and give them belief that they can go on and do something in this competition.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Kane scores match winner for England! | 00:31<\/p>\n

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The Guardian\u2019s David Hytner agreed: \u201cTuchel had wanted a spark, the moment of ignition as he targets glory. This may have been it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bellingham was undoubtedly the provider of that spark.<\/p>\n

The 23-year-old Real Madrid attacking midfielder was on the nose of many in the English media before the tournament.<\/p>\n

He was accused of being a divisive character that could disturb the dressing room.<\/p>\n

And the opinion that Bellingham should have been left at home as the likes of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Phil Foden and Cole Palmer were, was plastered over the nation\u2019s leading newspapers.<\/p>\n

Former England centre back Rio Ferdinand kept the receipts.<\/p>\n

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England’s midfielder #10 Jude Bellingham celebrates scoring his team’s first goal.<\/span>Source: AFP<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While other past players were in awe of Bellingham\u2019s brace as he became the first non-Mexican player to bag a double at the Azteca since Maradona in the 1986 semi-final.<\/p>\n

\u201cBig games call for big personalities and there\u2019s not many bigger than him [Jude Bellingham],\u201d former England defender Stephen Warnock said on BBC Radio 5 Live.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe has shown why he is the player starting in that position. Him in full flow, there\u2019s not many better sights.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t just rely on Kane,\u201d Warnock added.<\/p>\n

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Kane battling hard during post match | 00:34<\/p>\n

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\u201cYou have got to make sure you\u2019re chipping in with goals from elsewhere. There is a leadership within Jude Bellingham\u2019s performance now.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think he has had to earn the trust of Thomas Tuchel and now he feels he has got that we\u2019re starting to see big, big performances from him.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe athleticism, the power, it is very difficult to play against.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bellingham also made himself a national hero after the game by trying to his own impression of former Australian prime minister Bob Hawke after Australia II won the America\u2019s Cup.<\/p>\n

\u201cHave another shot and text your bosses to say you\u2019re not coming in tomorrow,\u201d Bellingham told the BBC when asked for his message to England fans back home.<\/p>\n

They were also toasting Pickford.<\/p>\n

The Everton shot stopper has always seemed to reach new heights when wearing an England shirt.<\/p>\n

He did so again with a multiple superb saves, most notably in the first half when he denied a Raul Jimenez header at the near post and as he repeatedly thumped away Mexican crosses in the dying minutes.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was an incredible performance from Pickford. I\u2019m so, so pleased for him,\u201d former England goalkeeper Joe Hart said on BBC One.<\/p>\n

\u201cLoved seeing the energy in his eyes at the end of the game, he has loved every single moment of this trip to Mexico. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe is a top keeper, he has made top saves all season, he is fully capable of it, but what else he brought to the game, the fingertip saves, coming out and winning crosses. He was absolutely brilliant. <\/p>\n

\u201cWhen England made the decision down to ten men to sit deep and defend with their lives, Pickford led. He has played a starring role yet again in a knockout game for England.\u201d<\/p>\n

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England’s goalkeeper #01 Jordan Pickford waves to fans after winning the 2026 World Cup round of 16 football match between Mexico and England.<\/span>Source: AFP<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While Tuchel could not have been missed in the sea of praise.<\/p>\n

There was scepticism in England when the former PSG, Chelsea and Bayern Munich manager was made Three Lions boss last year.<\/p>\n

The German won the Champions League during his time at Stamford Bridge, but a foreign manager has famously never won the World Cup.<\/p>\n

While his sacking at Chelsea came as a result of a lack of improvement despite big spending by the London club.<\/p>\n

Tuchel became known for overseeing a declining a morale as he regularly chopped and changed the team to experiment with different combinations.<\/p>\n

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England head coach Thomas Tuchel reacts after the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Mexico and England<\/span>Source: AP<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

England fans were concerned of that happening again when he announced his England squad.<\/p>\n

With several Premier League stars left at home, there was outrage.<\/p>\n

Selections like towering Newcastle centre back Dan Burn puzzled.<\/p>\n

But the method to Tuchel\u2019s madness was revealed when Burn was subbed on in the second half to help repel repeated balls into the box as England switched to a back five with only ten men on the pitch.<\/p>\n

Now, no one is questioning Tuchel after that display.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom the off the way that England tried to manage the game, the energy and taking the game to Mexico in really difficult circumstances. Then to get the two goals, then to be hurt so soon afterwards and going into half time at 2-1,\u201d Former England striker Alan Shearer said on BBC One.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe second half started positive but then the red card and a penalty and you thought, \u2018what else is going against us?\u2019 <\/p>\n

\u201cThe way they stuck together and the manager\u2019s substitutions to go five at the back at the end, then Pickford was brilliant, a few great saves and coming out and taking the pressure off the defence when he could. <\/p>\n

\u201cEvery single one of them was superb.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2018It\u2019s Coming Home\u2019 rang out of the speakers of the Azteca after the final whistle.<\/p>\n

It might be prophetic.<\/p>\n

English people have always been quick to boast about their World Cup chances.<\/p>\n

It is one thing the likes of Rooney and Shearer saying they can add a second star to their shirt.<\/p>\n

It is another when the rest of the world stand up and take notice.<\/p>\n

Jurgen Klinsmann, the German legend who played for the likes of Inter Milan, Tottenham and Bayern Munich before managing Germany, Bayern, the US and South Korea, did so on ESPN.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow I think they can dream big,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n

\u201cI think England has a chance to bring it all home.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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