Was this England’s most impressive display since their 1966 triumph? On the face of it, conceding 20 shots in their 3-2 victory against Mexico at the Azteca Stadium seems concerning.
However, a deeper analysis reveals that the 19 non-penalty shots faced totaled only 1.09 expected goals (xG), showcasing an exceptional defensive effort from Thomas Tuchel’s squad.
England’s resilience became crucial after Jarell Quansah’s red card in the 54th minute, prompting a tactical shift. The team concluded the match with substitutes John Stones, Djed Spence, and Dan Burn joining Marc Guéhi and Ezri Konsa in a fortified back five. They successfully absorbed relentless pressure, with Mexico attempting 52 crosses in the encounter, 23 of which came from Roberto Alvarado alone—19 more than England’s total.
Despite Bukayo Saka providing an assist with England’s sole successful cross, Mexico struggled to convert wide passes into significant scoring opportunities. This was largely due to England players consistently winning aerial duels and ground battles for the ball. The team recorded 49 clearances, marking their second-highest total in a World Cup match without extra time since records began.
Over half of these clearances occurred after Raúl Jiménez converted a penalty to narrow the score to 3-2. In the second half, England made 37 clearances, including 20 after the 81st minute.
The collective defensive effort was remarkable, with nine players contributing at least one clearance in the final nine minutes plus stoppage time. The substitutes were particularly instrumental, as Burn, Spence, and Stones focused almost exclusively on defensive duties during their combined 100 minutes on the pitch.
Burn commented on his role, saying, “I’m known for my height and the way I defend, that’s blocking shots, blocking crosses, I was really trying to grind it out,”
While Burn utilized his height for defensive headers, Jordan Pickford showcased his skill in goal by punching the ball clear 18 times during the most recent Premier League season, averaging less than once every other match. In this match, he made five punches after England went down to 10 men, asserting dominance in his penalty area. It marked the highest number of punches by a goalkeeper in a World Cup match since 1974.
With the quarter-final approaching, England will need to replicate this level of defensive skill. Erling Haaland, who has netted five headed goals in 12 matches during World Cup qualifying and the finals, poses a significant threat. Norway will likely seek to leverage crosses to find their star striker, but Tuchel’s defense, as demonstrated against Mexico, appears prepared for the challenge.
While the debate continues on whether this was England’s best performance in 60 years, the statistics undeniably reflect a superb defensive display.
