Harry Kane does not normally find himself on the wrong end of controversial calls. But in Monday’s World Cup round of 16 clash against Mexico, the England captain committed a penalty, scored one, and set up a goal — all in the same game. That combination hadn’t happened for any player in a World Cup match since 1966.
England won 3-2 at Estadio Azteca in front of more than 80,000 hostile fans. But it wasn’t pretty, and it required a level of grit the Three Lions haven’t always shown on the biggest stage.
Jude Bellingham stole the show early. The young midfielder scored twice in 100 seconds during the first half, turning a nervous start into a sudden 2-0 lead. Mexico clawed one back before halftime, then things got complicated.
Defender Jarell Quansah saw a straight red card in the 54th minute, leaving England down a man with more than 35 minutes still to play. Mexico’s crowd smelled blood. The home team pushed hard for an equalizer.
But England held its nerve. Kane drew a penalty in the 60th minute and buried it himself, pushing the lead back to two goals. Mexico got one more back but couldn’t find a third. Kane’s night included the goal, an assist on Bellingham’s first strike, and a foul in the box that gave Mexico a penalty earlier in the half. OptaJose confirmed he’s the first to hit that specific stat line in a World Cup match in 58 years.
“It was a crazy game. We had to fight. I can’t really talk, but the occasion, the team, everything against us, we found a way,” Kane said, per the Associated Press’ Carlos Rodriguez.
Kane now has six goals this tournament and 14 in World Cup play overall, the most by any English player ever. He’s 32, he’s carrying this team, and he keeps delivering in moments where lesser players might fold.
Bellingham, who had been quiet by his standards in the group stage, erupted against Mexico. His two quick strikes changed the entire energy of the match. After the game, he was already looking ahead.
“We’ll enjoy it, and we’ll sing songs until we lose our voices on the plane and whatnot, but we’ll have a couple of days recovering, then it’s straight back to business in terms of facing Norway,” Bellingham said.
That quarterfinal matchup against Norway is set for Saturday at Miami Stadium. England has now reached the final eight in three straight World Cups, a mark of consistency that didn’t exist for this program before Gareth Southgate took over. Norway will be a different kind of test — organized, physical, and led by Erling Haaland, who has been quiet by his standards so far in this tournament.
Kane and Bellingham will need to replicate their Mexico form. If they do, England’s path to the semifinals looks wide open.
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