Thomas Tuchel makes bizarre admission about England versus Mexico World Cup match

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FT Desk

England boss Thomas Tuchel has expressed regret about not completing a rather unconventional act following the Three Lions' World Cup game against Mexico in the summer.

Jude Bellingham was the star of the show on the night as two of his goals helped England to their victory, while Harry Kane also scored from the penalty spot.

A second-half red card for Jarell Quansah meant England were on the back foot as the game progressed and a Raul Jimenez penalty in the 69th minute made it 3-2, ensuring a nerve-shredding last 20 minutes for Tuchel and his charges.

They held on, though, and booked their place in a quarter-final tie against Norway.

It was an emotional night and one of the best matches of the entire tournament.

And, Tuchel wishes he had eaten some of the grass to commemorate the occasion.

“I texted a friend after the match,” the German told Daniel Sturridge in Reflections: England’s World Cup Journey.

“And I just wrote: I regret that I didn’t eat some grass after the match, to keep something from this in my body forever. That was the feeling. It was the moment.”

Such an act isn't entirely unheard of. For example, Novak Djokovic eats a piece of the Wimbledon grass each time he wins the men's singles.

The celebrations from the England players and staff were massive post-match but, unfortunately, there was an injury casualty among the chaos.

Jordan Henderson was stretchered off after suffering an arm injury jumping over advertising hoardings celebrating England’s win 😲 pic.twitter.com/mvjt2hSBEQ

— Anything Liverpool (@AnythingLFC_) July 6, 2026

Jordan Henderson, a controversial squad pick from Tuchel, missed the rest of the tournament after he suffered a serious wrist injury while falling over an advertising board to run on the pitch to celebrate.

Tuchel says that moment was, in a way, full of joy, as it showed the solidarity among the players that they postponed their celebrations to help their team-mate.

“This had so much of what you could wish for,” Tuchel said of the Mexico game.

“If you needed any proof of what it meant to these players, and how they were with each other, it was the moment when Jordan fell over and broke his arm. In a second the players were there, every single player was there, stopping celebrations, building a shield, protecting Jordan, not going anywhere, in full empathy. It was so special.”

England would go on to reach the World Cup semi-final, where they suffered a late defeat against Argentina.