Thomas Tuchel’s belief that England can win the World Cup was fuelled by the thrilling win over Mexico – but the night also increased his concerns about the potential for “erratic” officiating costing his side.
Those who stayed up late to watch the delayed last-16 encounter on an electrifying evening at the Estadio Azteca were rewarded with an inspirational performance against adversity.
England overcame hostility, altitude and Jarell Quansah’s red card, among other things, to triumph 3-2 against co-hosts Mexico, with Jude Bellingham’s quickfire brace and a Harry Kane penalty complemented by dogged defending.
Tuchel’s 10 men earned a quarter-final date with Norway in Miami this Saturday and moved within three wins of joining Sir Alf Ramsey’s 1966 heroes in immortality.
“It fuels our belief that we are here to stay, yes, of course,” the England boss said.
“We are in a part of a tournament, round of 32, round of 16, where you just need to find a way to stay in the tournament, you need to find a way to win.
“Then, from the quarter-final, it’s eight teams and everyone can win it.
“We will stay with the motto, step by step, and game by game. But of course, matches like this, you can only win them with belief, and it will just fuel our belief.”
Tuchel believes “there’s so much to love about this team”, with the German noting “they just hang in there, they just refuse to give in”.
That mindset and togetherness was needed on a night when the officiating angered the head coach, with the referee sent to the monitor by the VAR to review a Quansah challenge that was not even initially deemed a foul.
Another intervention led to Kane conceding a spot-kick, with Tuchel saying the level is “not good enough” in Mexico and questioning standards across the board at the World Cup.
Asked if the refereeing could send England out, he said: “He can send any team out in any moment. It’s just not good enough. It’s just erratic, it’s just unreliable in matches.
“Now we have two fourth officials who just scream at you if you put one foot out of a coaching zone. It’s just not good enough.”
Tuchel continued: “We give everything and then decisions are overturned in a very questionable way. But it’s not only about the big decisions, the little decisions, the consistency in the decisions.
“You’re just out there, it’s like almost on the open sea, in front of the court, you don’t know what’s going to happen. They’re just not on the level.
“You play high level now, also the so-called underdogs, the so-called little nations, like we played Congo, they play on the highest level. Cape Verde plays on the highest level. You need highest-level refereeing.
“There are only athletes out there, the game has changed massively and it’s just not good enough. It’s just not good enough for the players, for the game.”
