Was England’s recent display against Mexico their finest since 1966? On the face of it, conceding 20 shots in a 3-2 victory at the Azteca Stadium seems concerning.
However, a closer examination reveals that the 19 non-penalty shots faced amounted to just 1.09 expected goals (xG), showcasing the exceptional defensive efforts of Thomas Tuchel’s squad.
The necessity for a robust defensive performance became apparent when Jarell Quansah received a red card in the 54th minute. This prompted a tactical shift, leading to a back five consisting of substitutes John Stones, Djed Spence, and Dan Burn, alongside Marc Guéhi and Ezri Konsa. They successfully absorbed significant pressure from the opposition.
Mexico attempted a staggering 52 crosses throughout the match, with Roberto Alvarado responsible for 23 of them, far surpassing England’s efforts.
Despite Bukayo Saka providing an assist through England’s only successful cross, Mexico struggled to create meaningful chances from their wide play. The English defense consistently intervened, making 49 clearances—marking their second-highest tally in World Cup history without extra time.
A significant portion of these clearances came after Raúl Jiménez converted a penalty to narrow the score to 3-2. In total, England recorded 37 clearances during the second half, 20 of which occurred after the 81st minute.
This commendable team effort saw nine players contributing at least one clearance in the crucial final minutes plus stoppage time. Notably, the substitutes played a pivotal role; Burn, Spence, and Stones not only made numerous clearances and interceptions but also focused primarily on defending against relentless attacking waves.
“I’m known for my height and the way I defend, that’s blocking shots, blocking crosses, I was really trying to grind it out,”
Burn remarked post-match, displaying a sense of humility regarding his contributions.
While Burn utilized his height effectively, goalkeeper Jordan Pickford opted for a different approach, relying on his fists. The Everton stopper recorded 18 punches in the previous Premier League season, averaging less than one per match. Yet, he managed five punches after England was reduced to ten men in this encounter, asserting dominance in his penalty area. This marked the most punches made by a goalkeeper in a World Cup match since 1974.
Looking ahead to the quarter-final, similar defensive solidity will be crucial. Erling Haaland, who has netted five headed goals in 12 matches during World Cup qualifying and the finals, poses a significant threat. Norway will likely attempt to utilize crosses to find their star player, but Tuchel’s defense has proven they will embrace the challenge.
Though opinions may vary on whether this was England’s best performance in 60 years, the statistics clearly indicate that their defensive display was nothing short of exceptional.
- World Cup 2026
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