Tuchel regrets not eating Azteca turf after win over Mexico

Thomas Tuchel expressed regret after the England football team's World Cup victory over Mexico at the Azteca Stadium. Despite playing with 10 men for most of the second half due to a red card, England secured a 3-2 win, advancing to the semi-finals. Tuchel's surprising comment came in an interview with Daniel Sturridge for the FA's feature "Reflections: England's World Cup Journey."

He admitted, "I regret that I didn't eat some grass after the match to keep something from this in my body forever." This admission reflected the importance and significance of the match for the team. England's win was the third time Mexico had lost at the stadium in 90 competitive matches. Tuchel described it as a highlight of the campaign and praised the strong bond within the team, particularly the reaction to Jordan Henderson's injury.

He noted how the players immediately shielded Henderson, showing empathy and unity. Tuchel emphasized that the match meant a lot to the players and represented something to build on, expressing excitement about the team's future prospects, including their upcoming match against World Cup winners Spain in September 2026.