Tuchel reflects on England’s World Cup triumph over Mexico
Thomas Tuchel has made one of the more peculiar confessions in recent footballing memory, admitting he wished he had consumed a handful of turf from the iconic Azteca Stadium following England’s thrilling World Cup triumph over Mexico, reports BritPanorama.
The German manager’s remarkable revelation features in the Football Association’s documentary “Reflections: England’s World Cup Journey,” which is being released today. Speaking to former Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge in the film, Tuchel disclosed that the sheer magnitude of the round-of-16 victory left him with an unusual impulse — one he now wishes he had acted upon.
This unexpected admission has quickly become one of the most talked-about moments from the documentary, which chronicles England’s campaign at the summer tournament in full.
England’s last-16 encounter with the co-hosts in Mexico City proved to be one of the Three Lions’ finest overseas displays. The match finished 3-2 in a contest brimming with intensity from both sides. The victory was made all the more remarkable by the fact that defender Jarrell Quansah was sent off, forcing Tuchel’s men to battle through nearly an entire half with just ten players on the pitch.
Despite that considerable disadvantage against a passionate home crowd inside one of football’s most storied venues, England held firm to secure their passage to the latter stages. The tournament would ultimately conclude in heartbreak, however, as Argentina ended English hopes at the semi-final stage. Yet it was that extraordinary night at the Azteca that clearly left the deepest impression on the manager.
Tuchel revealed he had messaged a companion shortly after the final whistle. “I texted a friend after the match and I just wrote, ‘I regret that I didn’t eat some grass after the match to keep something from this in my body forever’. That was the feeling. That was the moment,” he said.
The 2026 World Cup match contained, in Tuchel’s own estimation, everything one could hope for in a football contest. He singled out a particularly poignant incident during the post-match celebrations. “If you needed any proof of what it meant to these players and how they were with each other, it was the moment Jordan fell over and broke his arm,” he recalled. “Within a second, the players were there. Every single player was there stopping the celebrations, building a shield, protecting Jordan, not going anywhere, in full empathy. It was so special.”
Tuchel expressed a sense of genuine ownership over the squad, declaring, “It feels like they are my players now, it’s something to build on.”
The manager struck an optimistic tone about England’s prospects heading into a home European Championship in two years’ time. “I’m very excited. I think we got another step closer and I think we’re there,” he added. Attention now turns to more immediate matters, with the autumn international window approaching swiftly. England are set to face World Cup champions Spain on 26 September in their opening Nations League fixture.
Tuchel’s side will also meet Czechia twice, with a clash against Croatia sandwiched between those encounters. The squad for this first batch of post-World Cup fixtures is due to be announced on Friday.
In the end, this curious insight from Tuchel serves as a reminder that in football, even the most serious moments can evoke a playful spirit. In such high-stake settings, where history is often written in the span of a heartbeat, nostalgia can sprout from the most unexpected places.
