Bellingham is the superhero as England survive Aztec hell to book Norway date

23 Jul 2026, 09:14 by Magnus Eriksen · CaughtOffside

England logo on kit

Ten men, a deafening stadium and a night no one inside Estadio Azteca will forget anytime soon; England somehow scraped past Mexico 3-2 to reach the World Cup quarter-finals, and the way it happened will stick with everyone who saw it.

All across the country, fans stayed up into the early hours for this one, and they got something truly special. England walked into possibly the most intimidating arena in world football, took a red card, had to deal with the altitude, got everything Mexico and those 80,000 roaring home fans could possibly throw at them and somehow still made it to the last eight. Now Thomas Tuchel’s team heads to Miami for a showdown with Norway on Saturday. After that wild ride on Sunday night, it’s hard to see any limit for this England side.

Ten men, one epic defensive stand

The red card, Jarell Quansah’s dismissal just after the hour, changed everything. Mexico got a penalty from Jimenez, and the final stages felt like they lasted forever. Tuchel’s subs made all the difference: John Stones and Djed Spence came on to steady the ship, England shifted to a back five and they just flat-out refused to break. Considering the circumstances, this might’ve been Tuchel’s best bit of game management since taking over, and even the players seemed lost for words afterwards.

And for those who like a bit of action riding on these matches, nights like this show why online sports betting keeps getting bigger in the UK. It’s not just match odds now; sites are loaded with slots, table games and live casino action for fans who want something extra alongside the football. Maybe you spin the slots during a lull, or head to a live casino table after the final whistle. It’s a different way to do matchday, but for plenty of fans, that’s just part of the big-tournament experience now.

A ground where Mexico just don’t lose

The Azteca has always been Mexico’s fortress, and the numbers back that up. Before this match, Mexico had lost only two of their last 90 games at this stadium, making it about as tough an away fixture as you’ll find in international football. Throw in the high altitude, about 2,240 metres or 7,350 feet above sea level, an hour-long storm delay and a crowd that’d been lining up since the afternoon and England had every reason to expect a rough night. But Bellingham shattered that narrative almost instantly. His double came within the first two minutes, 98 seconds most reports say, and suddenly the fortress had a crack, and it never really closed again.

If you’re the betting type, nights like this are rare. Punters get it, football’s still the top dog in British sports betting. The Gambling Commission says football betting pulled in £1.3 billion in the year up to March 2025, way outpacing horse racing. A dramatic World Cup knockout against a co-host, packed stadium and red card in the mix; this is exactly the sort of thing that keeps betting accounts busy.

Bellingham steps up again

This isn’t some one-off show from Bellingham. The guy’s got a knack for turning up when the stakes are highest. It’s been like that all tournament. England walked into the Azteca as the reigning European Championship runners-up, after making the final in 2025 but falling short. This time, the squad needed a big moment, something that would prove they’d grown beyond that heartbreak. Two goals in two minutes. A goal-line clearance to keep Cesar Montes out. Relentless work in midfield, even while down to ten men. He answered every question out there. Former England defender Micah Richards put it best: Bellingham always shows up and always gives everything. Hard to argue with that after Sunday night.

It’s not the first dose of drama England’s served up this tournament, either. Just a few days ago, keeper Jordan Pickford made a mistake against DR Congo in the Round of 32, and plenty of people wondered about his form heading to Mexico City. But he answered all doubts, pulled off save after save against Raul Jimenez and stayed rock solid in a frantic finish. Pickford also tied an England men’s team record: 17 World Cup appearances, matching Peter Shilton. The Norway game gives him the chance to set a new mark.

Facing the Vikings

Now England heads to Miami to meet Norway, the team that’s surprised everyone, with their own star player hitting top form. After everything Tuchel’s squad just survived; hostile crowd and down to ten for over forty minutes, there’s a real sense of belief building that this group can go all the way. Alan Shearer didn’t hold back after the final whistle, calling it an incredible performance from start to finish, and he’s not wrong.

Whatever happens against Norway, Sunday night in Mexico City is going to go down as one of England’s great modern performances.

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