Did England deliver their finest performance since the 1966 World Cup? At first glance, their 3-2 victory over Mexico at the Azteca Stadium appears concerning, having conceded 20 shots.
However, a closer inspection reveals that the 19 non-penalty shots they faced amounted to just 1.09 expected goals (xG). The team, under Thomas Tuchel’s guidance, executed an impressive defensive strategy.
The need for strong defense became apparent after Jarell Quansah received a red card in the 54th minute. England adjusted their formation, bringing on substitutes John Stones, Djed Spence, and Dan Burn, who joined Marc Guéhi and Ezri Konsa to form a robust back five. They withstood significant pressure, with Mexico attempting a staggering 52 crosses during the match, including 23 from Roberto Alvarado alone—19 more than England managed.
While Bukayo Saka managed to assist with the only successful cross from the English side, Mexico struggled to capitalize on their wide play. England players frequently intercepted and cleared the ball, culminating in 49 clearances, marking their second-highest tally in a World Cup match without extra time since records began.
A significant portion of these clearances occurred after Raúl Jiménez converted a penalty to narrow the score to 3-2. In the second half alone, England recorded 37 clearances, with 20 coming after the 81st minute.
The team’s determination was evident, as nine players contributed at least one clearance in the final nine minutes and stoppage time. Notably, the substitutes played a crucial role; Burn, Spence, and Stones not only made multiple clearances, interceptions, and blocks during their combined 100 minutes on the field but focused mainly on defending.
“I’m known for my height and the way I defend, that’s blocking shots, blocking crosses, I was really trying to grind it out,”
Burn commented post-match, reflecting his understated contribution to the team’s success.
In contrast to Burn’s aerial prowess, goalkeeper Jordan Pickford relied on his fists to clear threats. Throughout the last Premier League season, he recorded 18 punches, averaging less than one per match. Remarkably, he executed five punches after England was reduced to ten players in this match, demonstrating dominance in his penalty area. This marked the highest number of punches by a goalkeeper in a World Cup match since 1974.
As England prepares for the quarter-final, they will need to maintain this defensive strength. Erling Haaland has netted five headed goals across 12 matches in both World Cup qualifying and the tournament, matching his tally from league play and Europe last season with Manchester City. Norway will likely target their star striker with crosses, but Tuchel’s defense has proven capable of handling such challenges.
While the debate continues regarding whether this performance was England’s best in 60 years, the statistics undeniably highlight their outstanding defensive display.
