Source :- THE AGE NEWS
That was a day to remember, and I thoroughly enjoyed minute (except the minutes when everything went too fast to keep up).
Frances Howe will be with you tomorrow bright and early for another day of action.
See ya.
More round of 16!
Portugal v Spain, 5am AEST
Cristiano Ronaldo admitted this World Cup will be his last and stressed he leaves with no regrets ahead of Portugal’s last-16 clash with neighbours Spain in Dallas.
The 41-year-old, playing at a record sixth World Cup, made the comment at the end of a press conference in which he insisted he would end his trophy-laden career on his own terms.
“Let this be my last World Cup; it is my last World Cup, and I hope tomorrow won’t be my last match,” Ronaldo said before departing to a round of applause from journalists.
Ten-man England weathered a Mexico storm at the Azteca Stadium to reach the World Cup quarter-finals for the third straight time with a rip-roaring 3-2 victory over the co-hosts on Sunday (Mexico City time) thanks to a Jude Bellingham double and Harry Kane penalty.
Thomas Tuchel’s side made it hard for themselves but handed the battling Mexicans their first-ever World Cup defeat at the iconic stadium to set up a last-eight clash with Norway who shocked Brazil 2-1 earlier on Sunday.
Mexico had only lost two competitive games at the Azteca in 89 matches since 1966 but England deserved to make it three.
After the game was delayed by an hour due to thunderstorms, Mexico attacked from the start backed by their fanatical support who raised the decibel level even higher than in their earlier matches at their home fortress, but England held firm and managed to take the sting out of the game.
“Very proud,” the England manager tells the broadcast pitchside interviewer.
“We needed everything and it was super difficult and always when we thought we caught the momentum we had setbacks. But that’s proper mentality. This team really mean it. When the going gets tough, they never give up, they never lose belief.”
What can stop England now, he’s asked?
He laughs. “Norway,” then continues …
“We need two days now. We need to take this in … crazy, crazy game. We left everything out there, every single one of us. We need to take this in. Now it’s full steam ahead.”
Pickford falls backwards. Bellingham falls forwards. Mexico’s players are in tears, come inconsolable. They have had a very good tournament, the co-hosts. And what a disappointment for most of the spectators inside this stadium, where they have lost now only three times in 90 competitive games.
Today, the Azteca belongs to England, because that was a statement win. I don’t even know where to start in terms of talking points. I mean, there were five goals (including two penalties), a red card, six yellow cards. Mexico finished with 20 shots (five on target) to England’s six (also five on target).
Mexico, without a doubt, had the upper hand in the first half before those two Bellingham goals in two minutes. And they did once more at the end, when they pinned England so close to their goal the visitors were a parked bus personified.
Mexico have less than a minute on the clock. They have a player down and it’s 10 on 10. Jimenez almost has another chance at the back post. Stones clears. Another Mexico corner. Will this be the moment? It will not.
An absolutely bonkers game of football finally comes to an end.
Vasquez goes into the book for, apparently, bad language. And Henderson, on the bench, gets one for unsportsman-like behaviour.
Mexico 2-3 England, 90+8 minutes
They throw themselves into everything. Rice blocks a would-be shot outside the box. Mexico keep passing, keep switching, keep crossing. Oh and that cross falls for Jimenez, who has a beckoning goal in front of him but decides to aim for Pluto instead. It’s not even a planet, Jimenez. Get your eye in.
Mexico 2-3 England, 90+7 minutes
