‘It was a night legends were made’
I watched England v Mexico from the Mexican end. Anyone who witnessed the game at the Azteca will never forget it. Truly an extraordinary night and that I was there was a complete coincidence. When I booked my tickets in January, I just wanted to experience Mexico City and have a little football on the side. Instead, it was a night in which legends were made.
- Fans sacrificed sleep to watch England, some getting about three hours, then powering through with coffee, naps, and early bedtimes.
- It was nailbiting: a red card, a penalty and plot twists left England fans feeling sick, anxious, and breathless in the final minutes.
- Supporters connected worldwide via FaceTime, shared emotions with friends belting out Wonderwall, and felt mixed loyalties while celebrating together.
Even though they lost, the streets of Mexico City were crowded with people celebrating something, maybe having survived the game without a heart attack.
There were goals, penalties, a sending off, drama. Somehow England hung on through waves of Mexican passion rolling down through the layers of the Azteca. My only regret is that common sense dictated that I didn’t celebrate it as it deserved.
We were sitting nearly at the top of the stadium at the Mexico end, surrounded by flag waving hysteria. Everyone was supposed to have a Mexican flag, but someone had taken off with ours before we had arrived, having been unavoidably held up in the tequila queue. I didn’t mind being at the back as it cut down the number of people sitting behind us who were liable to throw a beer at us.
The PA system encouraged the fans to “make some noise”, like they needed any encouragement, and the weather gods joined in with massive rolls of thunder. The game itself was like being tossed about in a small boat in a storm. Just as things calmed down, another massive wave would hit you. If you blinked another plot twist would have you reeling. There were no Mexican waves, we were far too busy being shocked and awed. For me, the World Cup is like a soap opera with heroes, villains, plot twists and overacting. When the siege of the Azteca ended with the final whistle the Mexican crowd were too stunned to speak. Paul, 66, a writer, from Surrey, lives in Auckland, New Zealand
‘There was a scramble to get the boys to school’
My husband and our two boys, aged eight and six, watched it at home. We went to bed and set an alarm for 12.45am, only to try to go back to sleep for another hour because of the delayed kick-off. We had woken the boys at 1.50am and settled in for the match. My dad is over in Spain watching the Tour de France and didn’t have access to the match, everything was failing for him, so we ended up using FaceTime on the iPad pointing at a laptop with the BBC stream on in the kitchen, while we watched in the lounge – my boys running through to talk to grandad at key intervals!
We managed to get the boys back to bed once the match was over, although I had to snooze with them while they wound down with the adrenaline of an amazing victory. Memories made for sure, as they are football mad. This morning was a late wake-up at 8am for them and a scramble to get to school on time after they watched the Brazil highlights and checked their family fantasy football league standings! Both my husband and I are self-employed and have the day for admin, so no heavy brain tasks today. It will be a very early night for all of us tonight. Jem, 42, designer and university teacher, Wakefield, UK
‘I have never felt so anxious’
I tried to nap at 10pm but didn’t sleep, and my alarm went off at 12:30am to go to my friend’s house up the road. We’ve watched every England game of the last few men’s and women’s tournaments together, but when the game was put back by an hour, we cancelled that, and I ended up downstairs in the conservatory watching on my laptop. I chose it as it’s the furthest part of our house from where my family was sleeping.
Watching the game I have never felt so anxious. In those last 30 minutes I felt sick. I muttered: “I know how this plays out, I’ve seen it a hundred times” when the red card came out, and Mexico got their penalty …
I went for regular nervous wees and made the right choice not to have a beer! The final whistle was incredible, just as the skies were starting to lighten. I snuck back upstairs to try to get some sleep. I got about three hours and have had half an hour’s nap, but am going to power through with a little coffee, tea and a smile. I’ve got to take my daughter swimming after school, and then it’ll be bedtime for me at 7.30pm. I am so glad I watched it live – it was such a great occasion, I would have been gutted to have slept through it. Tom Canning, 42, freelance digital content producer and beer festival founder, Berkshire, UK
‘I remember Gazza’s tears – this was more dramatic’
I’m a Brit living in Tokyo for a year with work. It was a breakfast kick-off for me, watching at home via VPN on the iPlayer. The earlier group games were all 1am or 4am kick-offs. So I can say to my friends back home – welcome to feeling wrecked all day after an emotionally draining England performance! Norway will be back to a 4am kick-off for me.
When I was 18, I vividly remember Gazza’s tears [in the 1990 World Cup] but this was more dramatic.
My mate Matt was at the Azteca for the match, and I saw him on the telly belting out Wonderwall. It’s a cliche to say the World Cup connects us all. But to see your good mate thousands of miles away sharing the exact same emotion as you is quite something. Toby Peggs, 54, tech startup CEO, Tokyo
‘When England won, it was utter bliss’
I watched it at night from my home town, Mar del Plata in Argentina. I’m a Spurs fan and Kane’s brought me so much joy over the years, so I’m always backing him from over here.
The match kicked off at 10pm. Proper tough game, but the sheer class of Jude and Harry meant England went into the break 2-1 up. When England won, it was utter bliss. Even though I’m not English, I really resonate with what Thomas Tuchel (who isn’t English either) said: “We have a very sad history with this stadium, today we can leave in peace.”
given the history, watching England was somewhat taboo. But as a teenager, since my favourite bands were English, I decided to take things a step further.
Although my initial support stemmed from the fact that the 2018 England squad included Kane, Dier, Dele, and Trippier – “my boys”.
The enthusiasm endured. I watched the Euros and cried over the lost finals, and I always follow the national team and its players – even more closely than those from my own country.
So, while it started with Kane, it spread to all the players. Gordon, in particular, was HUGE yesterday. When England plays, I’m ready to cheer my heart out for Rice, Saka, and … Eze. Hernán, works in digital sales, Argentina
‘It was a wild game’
I’m in Stockholm, visiting Swedish friends I first met when living in South Africa. Another friend, from Australia, is also here. We’re all coming at it from different angles, and my friends all support Norway now. I woke up at around 4am, saw the score, (2-1) and had to switch on the TV in my hotel room, even though with a long trip home today I was worried I’d regret it. On the contrary, I’m glad I did … wild game! And I even managed to get back to sleep for an hour or two before the lure of the buffet breakfast made me rise. Clara, in her fifties, communications manager, Cheltenham
‘We would have been happy with either result’
We watched the match at our local ‘pub’ in Mexico City – among a sea of green shirts, my 12-year-old son was the only one in an England shirt (he is half English, half Mexican). He celebrated the first England goal and then dramatically pulled off his shirt to start supporting Mexico for a while. We felt very conflicted throughout the match. It was a very stressful one for us all, but in the end, we would have been happy with either result. Mexico has been the most amazing host for the World Cup, and the fans are so enthusiastic. The atmosphere last night in Mexico City was incredible. England did very well. Julia, 42, works in education, Mexico
‘My first interaction was with a fan lambasting the hydration break’
I watched the first portion of the match at home and then wandered outside during the half. My local sports bar in Berlin, which was closed, pointed me to Hackescher Markt where there was a gathering of English football supporters. I found the Kilkenny Pub just before Kane took his penalty. My first interaction was with a fan lambasting the hydration break (Trinkpause in German). He wasted no time in accusing the United States, my home country, of having no history and no culture. It was then I knew I had come to the right place to experience this historic game. I tend to find when I stay up too late, it’s the day after the one during which you assume you will suffer that is trying. Some Red Bull and a little fortitude will see me through. Patrick, 40, Berlin, professor/writer
