Former England goalkeeper Joe Hart has publicly disagreed with Thomas Tuchel’s fierce criticism of the match officials following England’s thrilling 3-2 victory over Mexico in the World Cup, insisting the referee made the right calls despite the controversy.
The result secured England’s place in the last 16, where they are set to face Norway, after a hard-fought performance that saw the Three Lions play much of the second half with 10 men.
Tuchel Furious Over Key Decisions
England manager Thomas Tuchel did not hold back in his assessment of the officiating after the final whistle.
The German coach questioned both the referee and the video assistant referee (VAR), arguing that several major decisions unfairly went against his side.
His biggest frustration centered on the penalty awarded to Mexico after Harry Kane was judged to have fouled Brian Gutierrez inside the box following a VAR review.
Tuchel insisted the incident did not meet the threshold for overturning the referee’s original decision and criticized the overall standard of officiating, including the fourth officials.
He also questioned the composition of the VAR team, suggesting their involvement influenced the outcome of key moments in the match.
Hart Believes the Officials Got It Right
Speaking as a BBC pundit after the match, Joe Hart took a different view, saying Tuchel’s post-match remarks were unnecessary given England’s impressive performance under difficult circumstances.
Hart argued that neither the red card shown to Jarell Quansah nor the penalty awarded to Mexico were controversial enough to justify such strong criticism.
In his opinion, both decisions were correctly made after review, and England’s achievement should have been the focus rather than complaints about the officiating.
England Overcome Host Nation in Hostile Conditions
England entered the contest knowing they faced one of the toughest assignments of the tournament.
Mexico arrived unbeaten in the competition without conceding a goal and enjoyed home support from more than 80,000 fans at the Estadio Azteca, where they have historically been extremely difficult to beat.
The altitude, passionate crowd and Mexico’s impressive home record added further obstacles for Tuchel’s squad, making the victory even more significant.
Bellingham’s Brilliance Gives England Early Control
Jude Bellingham put England in command with two goals in rapid succession during the opening half, giving the visitors what appeared to be a comfortable advantage.
Mexico, however, responded before the interval when Julian Quinones pulled one back, ensuring the hosts remained firmly in contention heading into the second half.
Red Card Changes the Match
The game’s momentum shifted dramatically nine minutes after the restart when Jarell Quansah received a straight red card.
Although the defender won the ball with his challenge on Jesus Gallardo, a VAR review determined the tackle was dangerous because of his raised studs, reducing England to 10 players for the remainder of the match.
Despite the setback, England quickly restored their two-goal cushion after Anthony Gordon won a penalty, which Harry Kane confidently converted.
Kane’s Mixed Fortunes Keep Contest Alive
Kane’s celebrations were short-lived as he soon found himself at the center of another crucial incident.
The England captain clipped Brian Gutierrez inside the penalty area.
While referee Alireza Faghani initially waved play on, VAR recommended a review, and a penalty was eventually awarded to Mexico.
Raul Jimenez made no mistake from the spot, setting up a tense finale.
Pickford Leads England’s Defensive Stand
With a numerical disadvantage and Mexico pressing relentlessly, England were forced into a determined defensive display during the closing stages.
Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford produced a string of important saves to preserve his side’s advantage, while defender John Stones narrowly avoided scoring an own goal after making a desperate clearance that rolled just wide of the post.
England eventually survived the late pressure to seal what many have described as one of their most resilient World Cup victories in decades.
Tuchel Praises Team’s Fighting Spirit
Despite his frustration with the officiating, Tuchel reserved special praise for his players, applauding their determination and resilience.
He described the performance as heroic, highlighting how the team managed to withstand nearly an entire half with 10 men against the host nation in difficult conditions.
According to the England boss, the victory felt almost as significant as winning a final because of the obstacles his players had to overcome throughout the contest.
Henderson Suffers Injury During Celebrations
The evening was not without disappointment for England, however, as experienced midfielder Jordan Henderson was taken to hospital after suffering a serious wrist injury during the post-match celebrations.
Tuchel confirmed that Henderson fell over an advertising board after the final whistle and described the injury as significant, adding that medical staff were continuing to assess the full extent of the problem.
