Tuchel: I Wish I'd Eaten Azteca Grass After Mexico Win — SkimNews
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- Thomas Tuchel said in a new FA documentary that he wished he'd eaten grass from the Azteca pitch, texting a friend after England's 3-2 last-16 win over Mexico that he regretted not keeping something from the night in his body 'forever'.
- The FA released 'Reflections: England's World Cup Journey' on the England app on September 16, 2026, with Tuchel sitting alongside Sky Sports pundit Daniel Sturridge to review a campaign that ended in a semi-final loss to Argentina and a third-place finish.
- Tuchel cited Jordan Henderson breaking his arm during Mexico post-match celebrations as proof of squad unity, saying 'every single player was there, stopping the celebrations, building a shield, protecting Jordan' within a second of the fall.
- Tuchel said England played over 35 minutes with 10 men against Mexico, and described using meditation, manifestation (including five minutes on match day) and the mantra 'silence is powerful' after finding the Azteca pitch 'so peaceful'.
- Harry Kane was praised by Tuchel as having 'found another level' since joining Bayern Munich, with finishing 'out of control good' and dressing-room leadership that included rallying teammates after the October camp to push on in November.
- Jude Bellingham was called 'one of the players of the tournament' by Tuchel, who said the midfielder 'thrives on the pressure,' came in with the best physical preparation, and 'decided every single match' for England.
- Tuchel said England next face world champions Spain in the Nations League with Euro 2028 the next major tournament, and that preparing for the Euros will be 'possible' in Nations League tier one compared to the 'very difficult' US World Cup build-up — citing 10 matches in the US (8 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss) to build on.
Why it matters: Tuchel used the documentary to publicly bond himself to this England squad heading into Nations League fixtures against Spain and the Euro 2028 cycle, and his Azteca-grass and meditation comments — not the third-place finish — are what are travelling on social media, reshaping how the campaign will be remembered despite England falling to Argentina in the last four.
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