Mexico 2-3 England: Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane shine again in heroic defensive display at Azteca Stadium
Sky Sports rates the England players following their 3-2 win against Mexico in the last 16 of the World Cup; Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane stepped up but the defensive performance guides Three Lions into the quarter-finals
Monday 6 July 2026 09:17, UK
England held on for an excruciating 3-2 win against Mexico thanks to a heroic defensive performance to book their place in the quarter-finals of the World Cup.
Two goals for Jude Bellingham put the Three Lions in control. Julian Quinones pulled one back before Harry Kane's penalty and Jarell Quansah's red card then made for a chaotic end to the game.
But the stoic defensive performance from every player in an England shirt to see out the game now means they will face Norway in the quarter-final.
Here, Sky Sports rates all the players from an eventful evening in Mexico City.
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Jordan Pickford - 9
His best game of the tournament. Pickford had faced criticism in the four games before the last-16 clash at the Azteca but his save to claw away Raul Jimenez's early diving header was the confidence boost he needed.
He also leapt superbly to his right to keep another header out from Jimenez as England dragged themselves to the half-time break with a slender one-goal advantage and pressure mounting. Possibly could have saved the penalty if it were not for the big step to his left.
A calm head in a chaotic game. He was back to his very best once again.
Jarell Quansah - 4
Right-back was the main talking point before this game and it will be a main one after it. But, in Quansah's defence, he had not put a foot wrong until he flew into the challenge on Jesus Gallardo.
The first red card for England at a World Cup since Wayne Rooney against Portugal in 2006 put the game in the balance, but thankfully for Quansah, his team rallied and held on to ensure his mistake did not cost them their place in this tournament.
Ezri Konsa - 8
England's centre-backs have also been under scrutiny across the tournament but you cannot fault this defensive performance. A team united to drag themselves to the final whistle.
Konsa was no-nonsense in his approach and reliable. You cannot fault the defenders left on the pitch in what was one of the great defensive performances with everything on the line.
Marc Guehi - 8
Just like Konsa, Guehi cannot be faulted for this display. The pressure has never been higher and both of the starting centre-backs delivered, putting their bodies on the line whenever and wherever needed.
Nico O'Reilly - 7
Solid defensively and posed his usual and unique threat in the final third as he continued to drift into pockets of space. After the game descended into chaos, he was perhaps lucky to escape a red card for an elbow on Jorge Sanchez.
Thomas Tuchel withdrew him swiftly after that incident. Regardless, it seems as if England have their left-back for the foreseeable future. Performing at this level, on this stage, at just 21 years of age. He has a lot to learn, like avoiding moments like the elbow, but it's very impressive.
Elliot Anderson - 7
Anderson drifted in the game as he filtered into the role of dropping back to give added reinforcements for the defence. With England down to 10 men, it was difficult to have any say on possession but in games like this, players like Anderson are the profiles you need.
Declan Rice - 7
A booking inside the first minute reduced his influence on the game as he had to apply the brakes to his usual all-action approach in midfield. Mexico gained control in the middle of the park before the goals but Rice continued to play his part.
He bunkered down with the rest of the squad to play his role in the stoic defensive performance. Battling nagging injuries and playing the full game, 101 minutes, cannot go unnoticed either. Rice, like every other player, put his body on the line.
Bukayo Saka - 6
Remained off his usual standards but the flashes of quality he can bring to the game, and why he is so important for England, were clearly exemplified by his cross to Bellingham for the opener.
Withdrawn at the 56-minute mark in response to Quansah's sending off, he wouldn't have had many more minutes in the tank anyway.
Jude Bellingham - 10
Alti-Jude! England's man for the big occasion. A quiet start to the game, like the rest of the squad, but sparked his team into life with a quickfire double to silence the cauldron that is the Azteca.
His goals at one end speak for themselves but he was also on hand to rescue England defensively, poking the ball away from Cesar Montes before he could shoot from point-blank range and running himself quite literally into the ground to win this game.
In every big moment, Bellingham turned up. A legend in the making, if he isn't already there.
Anthony Gordon - 9
A performance to silence any doubters. The two assists off the bench against DR Congo have kick-started Gordon's World Cup into life. He was sensational and influential at Azteca.
A relentless runner but paired that with the bravery needed to ask questions of the defence. Pairing both of those traits translated to winning the key penalty for the third. He simply didn't stop. Superb from Gordon.
Harry Kane - 9
Pressure, what pressure? Pressure is for tyres! The game was hanging in the balance at 2-1 after Quansah's red card but Kane remained ice-cold from the penalty spot, in arguably the tensest moment in his career.
The two-goal lead was quickly extinguished, but his goal is the one that booked their place in the quarter-finals.
England's last 11 goals in the World Cup have come from Bellingham and Kane. This is the tournament for big names and England's duo continues to deliver when it matters most.
Substitutes
John Stones - 8
Brought on in difficult circumstances after Quansah's red card but he was the experienced head England needed to steady the ship.
Stones has been there and done it at every level and that level of maturity was needed in the high-octane ending at the Azteca.
Djed Spence - 8
He replaced O'Reilly following the elbow incident and filled in at left-back. He was called into action but the remit was clear: if the ball is there, clear it away and reset.
A last-ditch tackle inside the box put an end to a big chance for Mexico inside the final 10 minutes. He was excellent defensively.
Dan Burn - 8
Came on to make his first appearance at the World Cup as Tuchel looked to man the barricades in the final 20 minutes. A strong physical presence and it was needed with the back-to-the-wall defensive display.
Morgan Rogers - 6
He replaced Kane as time ticked down and ran well, cleared his lines in the box and tried to hold the ball up. It was never a cameo where he would have a say going forward but he played his part.
