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Jude Bellingham has declared that England will only truly banish the lingering spectre of the Estadio Azteca by going on to lift the World Cup trophy.
His comments follow a dramatic 3-2 victory over co-hosts Mexico in a thrilling last-16 encounter in Mexico City, a match where Bellingham himself delivered a performance for the ages.
The win marked England’s first return to the iconic stadium since Diego Maradona’s infamous ‘Hand of God’ goal eliminated them from the 1986 World Cup, a tournament Argentina ultimately won. That moment has remained a constant reference point for English football, and Bellingham insists that only a World Cup triumph can truly erase its memory.
Asked if the victory had finally laid the 1986 ghost to rest, the Real Madrid star responded: “They (Argentina) went on and won it, so we are still a few games away from righting that wrong. But the focus has to be on the next game. The performance was incredible tonight and we have to enjoy it. We will sing songs until we lose our voices on the plane. We will have a couple of days to recover and we will focus on Norway.”
The ‘Hand of God’ goal remains a reference point for England football fans (Getty)
Bellingham was instrumental in England’s success, scoring twice in just 98 seconds to give his side a 2-0 lead in the first half. He later made a crucial goal-saving block to prevent Mexico from equalising before the break. The midfielder then spearheaded England’s resilient rearguard action, tirelessly battling with 10 men after Jarell Quansah received a red card.
Acknowledging the weight of expectation, Bellingham remains adamant that England possesses the collective strength to go all the way.
“I am aware of the responsibility; I am aware of the pressure that I carry, along with all of the other players,” he stated. “I know there is responsibility on the pitch in terms of our roles. I know what I can offer to the team.
“But we have 26 lads in the squad who can do exactly what I did tonight. I am convinced of it and I hope a result like this can give them conviction that they are top players. We shouldn’t fear anyone, we shouldn’t wait 40, 50 minutes to realise we are a very good team. I hope this win instils belief in this squad because they deserve to feel this way.”
England now face Norway in their quarter-final clash in Miami on Saturday.
