Tuchel regrets not eating Azteca turf after England beat Mexico — SkimNews
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- Thomas Tuchel told Daniel Sturridge for the FA's 'Reflections: England's World Cup Journey' that he texted a friend after the match writing, 'I regret that I didn't eat some grass after the match to keep something from this in my body forever'
- England beat co-hosts Mexico 3-2 in the World Cup last-16 in July despite playing much of the second half with 10 men following Jarell Quansah's red card
- England went on to lose the semi-finals to Argentina before beating France in the third-place bronze medal match
- The Azteca result was only the third time Mexico had been defeated at the stadium in 90 competitive matches
- Tuchel highlighted the squad's 'huge bond,' pointing to how players immediately built a protective shield around Jordan Henderson after he broke his arm falling over an advertising hoarding while celebrating the win
- England face World Cup winners Spain on 26 September in their 2026-27 UEFA Nations League opener, with the 2028 European Championship on Tuchel's radar
- Tuchel said the World Cup run 'cemented' his relationship with the squad — 'it feels like they are my players now' — and that England got 'another step closer' to ending their wait for a first senior men's trophy since 1966
Why it matters: Tuchel is publicly framing the semi-final run as the foundation for ending England's 60-year senior men's trophy drought, with the 26 September Nations League opener against Spain the first chance to build on that momentum and test his claim that 'we're there.'
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