Thomas Tuchel Shares Unusual Regret After England's 10-Man World Cup Victory Over Mexico

Thomas Tuchel, England's manager, opened up about a unique regret following his team's remarkable 3-2 victory over Mexico at the Estadio Azteca during last summer's World Cup knockout stage. The win, achieved with only ten men, was a historic moment that left Tuchel wishing he had taken an unusual keepsake from the match.

An Unexpected Desire to Preserve the Moment

After the intense match in Mexico City, Tuchel found himself caught up in the magic of the occasion. He revealed that he texted a friend expressing his wish to have eaten some of the Azteca turf to keep a part of that experience within him forever. "I regret that I didn’t eat some grass after the match to keep something from this in my body forever," he admitted, highlighting how deeply moved he was by the event.

Unity Shines Through Injury

The atmosphere wasn’t just about celebration; it also showed the players' strong bond, especially when Jordan Henderson suffered a broken arm after falling over an advertising board during the celebrations. Tuchel described the scene in an interview with Daniel Sturridge, emphasizing the team's immediate response. "Every single player was there stopping the celebrations, building a shield, protecting Jordan - not going anywhere, in full empathy. It was just so special," he said.

Building a Foundation for the Future

This incident and the victory itself helped create a powerful connection between Tuchel and his squad. He spoke about the natural bond formed through shared successes and challenges, which now fuels their ambition as they prepare for upcoming competitions like Euro 2028.

"It feels like they are my players now. This is the beauty of it. You have success and painful moments together, but you have so much time together and then you create a natural bond. So I’m happy to see them. I’m happy to challenge them, happy to push them, and very proud to be a part of that."

Looking ahead, Tuchel expressed excitement about the team's progress. He highlighted their performance in the United States with eight wins, one draw, and one loss in ten matches as a solid base to build upon. Their focus now turns to the upcoming Nations League fixtures, which will serve as preparation for bigger tournaments.

Upcoming Challenges in the Nations League

England is set to return to competitive play later this month, hosting world champions Spain in the Nations League. They also face tough matches against Croatia and Czechia, including a home-and-away series. Tuchel plans to announce his squad soon as the team readies for this demanding schedule.

• Mexico vs England: 26 Sept 2026, 13:00
• England vs Spain (UEFA Nations League A): 26 Sept 2026, 21:45