England and Mexico played out a classic for the ages in the 2026 World Cup Round of 16, and there were so many heroes as the Three Lions showed the guts and team spirit lacking in their disappointing sides at previous big tournaments.
Harry Kane had another big performance, Jordan Pickford was like prime Gianluigi Buffon in goal, and, of course, Jude Bellingham was the biggest star of the night with two more goals to the good with an even better defensive clearance to save what would have been a decisive goal for El Tri.
But there is one last hero worth acknowledging. On a night in which an already depleted England defense lost Jarell Quansah to a red card after the former Liverpool flop's inane tackle, Djed Spence came off the bench at his usual Tottenham Hotspur position at left back and delivered another defensive monster class.
Djed Spence rose to the occasion vs. Mexico
After being being highlighted as a liability after an uneven - but not necessarily awful - performance against DR Congo, the maligned fullback proved that while Thomas Tuchel is indeed wrong for snubbing Trent Alexander-Arnold, perhaps Spence is not the wrong person to have chosen either.
Spence was magnificent with his last stand defending. His clearances, marking, and decision making under duress were impeccable, and despite being a fullback by trade, he was manning the box against crosses and identifying open attackers to cover like a world class center back.
Tottenham hotspur supporters had to have been beaming with pride watching Spence put his body on the line with goal saving blocks and clearances, using his head literally and figuratively to thwart an inspired Mexico side that, on any other day and against any other opponent, would not have deserved to lose at the venerable Azteca.
But with Mexico showing the heart and guts that they did in this dogged defense of their home country, England had to be just as filled with intenstional fortitude. And though a player like Djed Spence does not jump off the page like a superstar with the clout of a Real Madrid starter like Trent Alexander-Arnold - or even a Reece James from rivals Chelsea - he has that something special and that grit that a team like England needs.
A lot of people came into this matchup doubting Spence - and maybe not unfairly so. But as Spence continued to clear the lines and man the battle station, you could see the doubters in the England crowd slowly screaming and turning into believers in a player who is more than just a backup who nearly got Spurs relegated.
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