Magnificent Bellingham proves too much for 135 million Mexicans

Life can be wonderful. The World Cup is even better. Nothing else compares.

It’s passion, commitment and the feeling of making an entire country your own. The distance between heartbreak and pure joy can be as small as the few steps a referee takes to the VAR monitor before bringing your team, your nation and your dreams back to life.

That’s what the World Cup is. Every four years, even people who spend the rest of the calendar avoiding soccer suddenly embrace it as if they’ve loved it forever.

Sunday night at Estadio Azteca was another unforgettable reminder.

Thank you, soccer, for pushing emotions to their limits. And credit to a victorious England side and a fearless Mexico team that fought until the very end and played with the pride their country deserved.

Mexico bowed out after a thrilling 3-2 defeat, but it left the tournament knowing it had emptied the tank.

Bellingham makes the difference

Mexico chased the game. England won it without ever fully taking control.

The difference was Jude Bellingham.

The Real Madrid midfielder delivered a performance that stood well above everyone else on the field, carrying an England team that often looked hesitant into a quarterfinal showdown with Norway in Miami next Saturday.

Jordan Pickford also played a crucial role, frustrating Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Raúl Jiménez once again, much as he has done on several occasions in Premier League play.

Soccer can inspire unmatched joy, but it can also be brutally cruel.

England barely managed to cross midfield for the opening 35 minutes. Then, in the space of two minutes, everything changed.

Two attacks down the wings. Two perfect deliveries from Bukayo Saka and Harry Kane. Two defensive breakdowns. Two clinical finishes from Bellingham.

A match Mexico had completely under control suddenly belonged to England.

Bellingham’s intelligent movement between the lines, the trademark that made him such a sensation during his first season with Real Madrid, was once again impossible to defend. Mexico lost track of him twice, and he punished both mistakes with simple finishes into an open net.

Moments later, as Mexico desperately searched for a response, Bellingham also produced a vital goal-line clearance to preserve England’s advantage.

Mexico refuses to quit

But this Mexican team knew an entire nation stood behind it.

There was no chance it was going to let its World Cup end quietly.

The Azteca crowd roared its players forward as Javier Aguirre’s squad pinned England back once again.

Ezri Konsa failed to clear the ball, and Julián Quiñones continued his remarkable scoring run by pulling one back in the 42nd minute.

Mexico kept coming.

Before halftime, Raúl Jiménez forced two crucial saves, César Montes threatened from a set piece and Gilberto Mora masterminded another excellent attacking move.

The first-half numbers reflected Mexico’s dominance. It controlled 63% of possession while England struggled to establish any rhythm.

Still, England’s understanding between Kane, Saka and Bellingham repeatedly proved decisive. The scoreline may have flattered the Three Lions, but it also showed exactly why they entered the tournament as one of the favorites.

There was nothing to criticize about Aguirre’s team. Mexico outplayed England for long stretches through quality soccer and sheer determination.

VAR changes everything

England returned after halftime looking sharper.

A dangerous cutback from Nico O’Reilly went untouched, and Bellingham struck the post before producing another brilliant attacking sequence.

Then came the turning point.

Jarell Quansah lunged into a reckless challenge, and after a VAR review, the referee upgraded the foul to a red card.

The stadium erupted.

Azteca exploded, and millions watching across Mexico believed the comeback was finally within reach.

Yet, in the emotion of the moment, Mexico briefly lost its defensive focus.

Goalkeeper Raúl Rangel rushed off his line and brought down Anthony Gordon just four minutes after England went down to 10 men.

Harry Kane calmly converted the penalty.

Remarkably, Mexico answered almost immediately.

Kane, far less comfortable defending inside his own penalty area, committed a needless foul on Érick Gutiérrez. Raúl Jiménez buried the resulting penalty to cut the deficit back to one goal and set up a frantic finish.

A brave farewell

For the final half-hour, Mexico laid siege to England’s penalty area.

The numerical advantage was clear, but the relentless effort of the opening hour had taken its toll.

The opportunities kept coming, but the composure needed to find an equalizer never quite arrived.

The energy had faded, even if the belief never did.

Mexico’s World Cup journey ended with heads held high.

Sometimes the better performance isn’t enough.

England survived because of Bellingham’s brilliance, Kane’s leadership and Pickford’s resilience. Mexico exited after producing one of its finest performances of the tournament, backed by the unwavering support of more than 135 million people who believed until the final whistle.

Mexico vs England by numbers

66.8% possession for Mexico: El Tri controlled the ball for twice as long as England, which finished with 33.2%.

20 shots by Mexico: Aguirre’s team attempted more than three times as many shots as England, which managed only six.

2.02 expected goals (xG): Mexico also outperformed England’s 1.55 xG, showing it created the better scoring chances.

2 goals from Jude Bellingham: The Real Madrid star scored twice in just two minutes, in the 36th and 38th minutes, turning the match on its head.

1 red card for England: Jarell Quansah was sent off in the 54th minute, forcing England to play with 10 men for more than half an hour.

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