England’s WAGs celebrated the team’s best World Cup win since 1966 with kisses and hugs for their husbands and partners in wild scenes in Mexico City after the Three Lions’ extraordinary 3-2 victory.
Harry Kane, who scored a penalty after the break to take England’s tally to three and break Mexican hearts, shared a sweet kiss with his proud wife Kate at the Azteca Stadium
After the historic win, England’s talisman lost his voice singing Wonderwall and was seen wildly celebrating with his friend Peter Crouch on the touchline.
Reacting to the captain’s performance, US President Donald Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform: ‘Harry Kane of England is a GREAT player!!!’
Among the WAGs joining the post-match celebrations was Megan Pickford, wife of England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, who could not hide her smile as she celebrated with her husband and their six-year-old son Arlo at the Azteca Stadium.
Megan, who is usually clad head-to-toe in designer outfits, did not let her rain poncho dampen the mood, beaming as she hugged and kissed Jordan with Arlo squeezed uncomfortably between them.
Earlier, a jubilant Megan was seen throwing her arms into the air as Jude Bellingham struck twice in two minutes to put the Three Lions firmly in control.
But in typical England-style, there was chaos as Mexico fought back and Jarell Quansah was shown a straight red card early in the second half leaving fans fearing the worst.
A Harry Kane penalty and an inspired rearguard defensive performance saw the team win 3-2 in the Aztec Arena – the stadium where England’s hearts were broken by Diego Maradona and his ‘hand of God’ in 1986.
The England WAGs gave the team a hero’s welcome as they celebrated in the stands after soaring to a 3-2 victory in their crunch World Cup tie against Mexico – Kate and Harry Kane
Megan Pickford, wife of the team’s superstar goalkeeper Jordan Pickford , couldn’t hide her smile as they celebrated with a kiss
England’s Harry Kane (left) celebrates with former player Peter Crouch following victory in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16
Kane and Crouch are friends and former teammates
Kane and Bellingham were the heroes for England yet again
As millions of Brits stayed up until gone 4am for the final whistle, employers are being warned of a ‘mass sickie’ – encouraged by none other than England’s golden boy Jude Bellingham.
After scoring two of his side’s three goals and collecting his player of the match award, he advised England fans to ‘have another shot and text your bosses to say you’re not coming in tomorrow’.
Millions stayed up for the match, delayed for an hour due to lightning, with tens of millions more waking up to the news.
But fans were adamant the headaches are worth it after Sunday’s last-16 clash nixed the demons from England’s last outing at the Azteca 40 years ago when Diego Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ goal broke the nation’s hearts at the 1986 World Cup.
It came after companies were warned to expect a productivity hit as Britain prepares for the ‘mother of all Mondays’ recovering from the night before.
After beating Mexico, England will play Norway in the World Cup quarter-finals in Miami on Saturday night – a 10pm kick-off UK time.
Ahead of the match, Kate Kane showed her support for England by posting pictures to her Instagram of a Hugo Boss custom corset-like football shirt embossed with the ‘Kane’ surname in red.
Meanwhile, Megan donned a poncho as she braved the rainy conditions that forced the kick-off time to be pushed back one hour.
Harry Kane, who scored a penalty after the half-time break to bring England’s goal count to three, shared a sweet kiss with his proud wife Kate, leading the post-match PDA for the players
Megan Pickford couldn’t hide her smile as they celebrated with their son Arlo, six
Declan Rice took photos with his family and friends as the celebrations continued in the stands
Proud Kate gazed up at her husband after watching him net yet another goal for England
Megan Pickford has taken on a ‘mother hen’ role to her fellow partners, with sources saying she’s thrilled to take on her title a la the wives and girlfriends of years past.
‘In a time when the WAGs are lawyers, or nurses or even an engineer, there’s Megan. Some joke, in a kind way, that she’s a bit of a throwback to the old times but it’s just so refreshing,’ one insider told The Daily Mail.
‘She loves it all – the outfits, the glamour and the prestigious role and column inches being a WAG brings.
‘She is so proud of Jordan and so the least she can do is look the part to cheer him on.’
Harry and Kate shared a lingering hug as they soaked up the post-match atmosphere at the Azeteca Stadium
Harry shook hands with Jude Bellingham’s father Mark
Jordan’s son Arlo was keen to get some post match chat in with his dad
‘But in all seriousness, along with Kate Kane – wife of captain Harry – she is the longest-serving partner of the squad. This is her moment to shine, and she will.’
Megan was aged ten at the time of the 2006 World Cup. But she’s clearly been doing her research because nothing screamed WAG like the outfit she wore to cheer on England during their win against Croatia.
In keeping with the match’s Dallas location, Megan wore a cowboy hat with a number one on the front – the same as her husband’s goalkeeper shirt – a white vest and a pair of designer jeans which showed off her enviable midriff.
She finished her look with a pair of Gucci sunglasses, a necklace spelling out her daughter Ostara’s name and a tiny £2,500 White Lady Dior handbag in keeping with the strict stadium rules on bag measurements.
England’s camp go wild as they celebrate a goal from Bellingham in the first half
Megan donned a poncho as she braved the raining conditions that forced the kick-off time to be pushed back one hour
Jordan Pickford’s wife Megan waves from the stands while wearing a poncho to keep dry from the rain after the match was delayed due to a thunderstorm
Despite the weather, she seems in high spirits ahead of the crunch match against England’s last-16 opponents
Kate stunned in a white custom halter neck football shirt embossed with her husband Harry’s surname in red lettering
England overcame hostility, altitude and Jarell Quansah’s red card as Thomas Tuchel’s side edged a 3-2 blockbuster against World Cup co-hosts Mexico to set-up a quarter-final clash with Norway.
The back-to-back European Championship finalists faced all manner of obstacles heading into Sunday’s last-16 tie at the majestic Estadio Azteca, where kick-off was delayed by an hour due to a storm.
England started well 2,200 metres above sea level when the last-16 tie eventually got under way, with Jude Bellingham’s quickfire brace silencing supporters whose hopes would be revived by Julian Quinones before the break.
Mexican belief grew further when right-back Quansah was sent off for a clumsy challenge early in the second half, only for Tuchel’s team to immediately respond through skipper Harry Kane’s spot-kick.
Raul Jimenez added a penalty of his own to increase English nerves, yet the visitors showed defensive nous and togetherness to win on a wild night in Mexico City.
A date with Norway in Miami is the reward as England kept their quest for World Cup glory alive and helped avenge Diego Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ on their return to the Azteca after 40 years.
Football’s Coming Home rung around the famous stadium at the end of a match that began with a start as intense as the atmosphere.
Mexico attempted to capitalise on their acclimatisation to altitude but England effectively took the sting out of proceedings, although Jordan Pickford had to produce a world-class stop to deny Jimenez’s header.
The visitors, as planned, got through to the hydration break unscathed and soon began to pose problems at the other end.
Anthony Gordon forced a save from Raul Rangel and an outstanding break brought a memorable 36th-minute opener in Mexico City.
Pickford plucked out a pass and threw out to Declan Rice, who drove from deep in his own half and played wide to Bukayo Saka. The winger sent a fine clipped cross that Bellingham headed home.
It was an incredible moment that was followed by another within two minutes.
Pressure from Elliot Anderson and Gordon saw England gain possession, with Bellingham playing wide to Kane and meeting the skipper’s low ball from close range.
That moment took the electricity out of the Azteca, but the locals were not silenced for long.
Items cascaded down the stands as Mexico celebrated reducing the deficit as Quinones lasered home after England failed to deal with a free-kick.
Tuchel’s side had to hold on for dear life after that. Jimenez struck wide and then saw a header tipped over by Pickford, who roared in delight after Bellingham’s vital challenge on Cesar Montes.
England looked rejuvenated by the break and Nico O’Reilly saw an effort deflect onto a post, but they soon faced another barrier to progress.
The benches clashed as Quansah’s challenge on Jesus Gallardo initially went unpunished, only for referee Alireza Faghani to be sent to the pitchside monitor and return brandishing a red card.
John Stones replaced Saka as Tuchel bolstered his backline after a 54th minute sending off that his side responded well to, with England restoring their two-goal advantage six minutes later.
Faghani pointed to the spot after Gordon was brought down by Rangel with Kane showing nerves of steel to strike the resulting penalty beyond the goalkeeper.
But Mexico, roared on by incredible support, did not give in.
VAR Nicolas Gallo sent referee Faghani to the monitor for a penalty review and adjudged Kane to have caught Brian Gutierrez when clearing. Jimenez just beat Pickford with 69 minutes on the clock.
Tuchel made defence-minded changes during the second-half break as England battened down the hatches.
Key interventions and strong goalkeeping helped keep increasingly desperate Mexico at bay, with penalty appeals waved away.
Stones prodded just wide of his own goal after 11 minutes of stoppage time had elapsed, with England players pouring onto the pitch at full-time.
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