Flawed England survive World Cup epic in Mexico City to reveal true identity

They did it, just about, after 11 agonising minutes of stoppage time, England held off a ferocious late wave of pressure from co-hosts Mexico at the cauldron that is the Azteca Stadium in a 3-2 win. 

A flawed side, Thomas Tuchel could not obscure the cracks in a team that was opened up by El Tri, yet the resilience to respond was there again, notes Chief Football Writer Miguel Delaney, and he adds that this new trend that could take them to the final in New Jersey.

While Senior Sports Report Kieran Jackson has analysed the remarkable skill and tenacious mindset of Jude Bellingham, which once again dovetailed with England's killer inside the opponent's box: Harry Kane. Those two superstars are supercharging the Three Lions en route to the quarter-finals. 

Waiting for them are Norway and the unstoppable Erling Haaland, with Senior Football Correspondent Richard Jolly detailing in New Jersey how his double stunned Brazil and send them spiralling towards crisis under Carlo Ancelotti. And the Man City superstar might just be licking his lips at an England backline that continues to suffer, with Jarell Quansah hit by a red card, and Tuchel tasked with stopping the front-runner for the golden boot.

Luke Baker | Deputy Sports Editor

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