Intensity and Drama Mark England's Win Over Mexico
Harry Kane gave it his all in England's 3-2 win against Mexico on Sunday, including his voice, which was noticeably hoarse in the post-match interview.
When speaking after the match, Kane's voice was clearly strained as he struggled to express his thoughts on the victory, laughing as he said, 'My voice is gone,' after his voice cracked when mentioning Jude Bellingham's name.
The match was one of the most intense at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with Kane scoring the decisive goal on a penalty kick in the 60th minute, following multiple VAR checks that went against England, including a red card for defender Jarell Quansah and a penalty kick awarded to Mexico.
England played with 10 men for most of the second half but managed to limit Mexico to just one goal during that time, despite Mexico having 37 touches in the box and 20 shots on goal throughout the match.
The challenging environment of the Azteca, combined with the high altitude of 7,220 feet above sea level, made the win even more impressive for England, with Kane saying, 'It was a crazy game. We had to fight. We had to find something. I was just singing over there. I can't really talk. But all the occasion — the team and everything against us — we found a way.'
A VAR check in the 67th minute determined that Kane had fouled Mexico's Brian Gutiérrez before making contact with the ball, leading to a penalty kick for Mexico, a decision Kane disagreed with, saying, 'I thought I got to the ball first. It was one of those days where the ref gave a lot against us. In the end, it didn't matter. So, yeah, I'm happy.'
Kane's sixth goal of the tournament and Bellingham's two goals in three minutes late in the first half were crucial to England's victory, with Bellingham also making a key block on a Mexico attempt in the box late in the first half.
The strong performances by Kane and Bellingham have been a highlight of England's World Cup campaign, with the duo potentially leading their team to its first World Cup win since 1966, and the fans are optimistic, as evidenced by the strong support at Sunday's match.
When asked about a message for England's fans ahead of the quarterfinal match against Norway on Saturday, Kane pointed to the support the team received on Sunday, saying, 'Well, just look at them here. Incredible, unbelievable support,' before adding, 'Speechless, I can't even talk.'
