A lip reader has revealed what England manager Thomas Tuchel appeared to say on the touchline as the Three Lions survived a tense stoppage-time spell to seal a memorable World Cup win.
England edged Mexico 3-2 in a gripping encounter at Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium, with the display being described by some as the national team’s finest World Cup performance since 1966.
Tuchel was visibly on edge during the closing moments as his side, down to 10 men following Jarell Quansah’s red card, tried to withstand sustained pressure from the hosts inside the famous venue.
Broadcast cameras focused on the England boss in the 94th minute after Jude Bellingham was penalised for a foul, a decision that appeared to leave Tuchel furious.
The call enabled Mexico to launch another quick attack, prompting Tuchel to shout in frustration and place his hands on his head as the tension mounted.
Nicola Hickling, an expert analyst and professional lip reader working with Covers.com, examined the footage to interpret Tuchel’s reaction during the dramatic finale.
England manager Thomas Tuchel was captured venting his frustration on the touchline during stoppage time of the 3-2 victory over Mexico
According to an expert lip reader, Tuchel appeared to shout: ‘F***ing crazy, I need a pint man. God help me through this,’ after a late decision went against his 10-man England side
England ultimately produced their greatest World Cup win since 1966 as they downed Mexico
Hickling adjudged that Tuchel had responded to the incident by saying: ‘F***ing crazy, I need a pint man!
‘God help me through this.’
The rant would have summed up the mood of England fans in both the Azteca and the early hours back home, with supporters having an agonising watch to see if England could reach the quarter-finals.
England had been forced to battle with ten men for much of the second half, with Quansah’s dismissal leaving them short against the co-hosts, while they had to come over the much discussed disadvantage of playing at altitude.
Tuchel was not the only member of England staff to show his emotions during the epic.
England assistant Anthony Barry was among those who got stuck in to the Mexico bench on the touchline, moments before the VAR review that saw Quansah’s foul reviewed as tempers escalated.
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So much had gone right for England up to this point with Jude Bellingham scoring two goals 98 seconds apart before Mexico pulled one back just before half-time.
But tensions boiled over five minutes into the second half when Quansah’s rash challenge was initially waved away by the referee.
Harry Kane scored a decisive penalty kick as England dug in with ten men to edge it 3-2
Jarell Quansah was shown a straight red card for this challenge on Mexico’s Jesus Gallardo
Quansah was distraught and it meant that England had to go backs-to-the-wall defending
At the other end, England’s Anthony Gordon was then recklessly and cynically fouled and on the touchline all hell broke loose.
Daily Mail Sport reporters live from the Azteca Stadium spotted Barry in the thick of the touchline spat as he defended his colleagues and England players inside one of the most fraught atmospheres at the World Cup.
Quansah was distraught as he was shown a straight red card, but England refused to be rocked by going down to ten men.
Within minutes they landed what looked to be a knockout blow of their own when Gordon was fouled inside the penalty area and captain Harry Kane, as he did in the opening group game against Croatia, converted from the penalty spot to make it 3-1.
The drama wasn’t to end there, though, as Mexico soon got a penalty of their own.
Kane this time the man at fault as he clipped the foot of Mexico’s Brian Gutierrez and, again, having not given that foul in real time it was referred to VAR, where after review, the penalty was given.
England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford dived the right way but Wolves striker Raul Jimenez converted the pressure penalty to make it 3-2 just before the second half hydration break.
Tuchel made a number of defensive changes during the hydration break and the closing minutes as England desperately looked to hang on.
The England bosses’ frustrations turned to fist pumps upon the final whistle as the Three Lions dramatically set up a quarter-final clash with Norway.
In keeping with the night, there was more drama after the match as Jordan Henderson was stretchered off with a serious arm injury, which the non-playing substitute sustained during England’s celebrations.
