Thomas Tuchel has expressed his delight at England's landmark victory over Mexico at the Azteca Stadium, calling it one of the standout moments of his time in charge and admitting he wished he had taken a piece of the pitch home as a keepsake.
The win was only the third time Mexico have lost a competitive fixture at the famous venue in 90 matches, underlining the magnitude of England's achievement on foreign soil. For Tuchel, the significance of the result went beyond the scoreline, offering a glimpse into the growing togetherness within his squad.
That unity was put to the test in dramatic fashion moments after the final whistle, when Jordan Henderson suffered a tournament-ending injury. The midfielder fell awkwardly over an advertising hoarding while celebrating the victory with teammates and broke his arm, immediately bringing the post-match festivities to a halt.
Rather than dampening the mood, the incident revealed the strength of character within Tuchel's group, according to the England manager. He described how his players instantly abandoned their celebrations to rush to Henderson's side, forming a protective circle around their injured teammate.
"This game had so much of what you could wish for," Tuchel said. "If you needed any proof of what it meant to these players and how they were with each other, it was the moment Jordan fell over and broke his arm.
"Within a second, the players were there. Every single player was there stopping the celebrations, building a shield, protecting Jordan, not going anywhere, in full empathy. It was so special."
Tuchel has increasingly spoken about the bond he feels has developed with this England group since taking charge, and the events in Mexico appear to have reinforced that sentiment. The German suggested the tournament campaign had strengthened his connection to the players to the point where he now feels a genuine sense of ownership over the squad's identity and direction.
"It feels like they are my players now," Tuchel remarked, reflecting on how far the team has progressed under his guidance.
Looking ahead, attention now turns to a testing assignment against World Cup champions Spain, who will provide the opposition when England open their 2026-27 UEFA Nations League campaign on 26 September. It represents an early opportunity for Tuchel's side to measure themselves against the best international opposition in the world following their exploits in Mexico.
Beyond the immediate fixture list, Tuchel has not hidden his ambitions for the longer term, with the 2028 European Championships also firmly in his sights. England have not lifted a major men's trophy since their World Cup triumph in 1966, and the manager believes the current group has the tools to finally end that six-decade drought.
He framed the recent World Cup campaign as a foundation rather than a conclusion, insisting there remains scope for further development while expressing confidence in the trajectory the team is on.
"I'm very excited," Tuchel said. "I think we got another step closer and I think we're there."
With Henderson's injury a sobering reminder of the physical toll such campaigns can take, Tuchel will now shift focus to preparing his squad for the Nations League opener against Spain, hoping to carry forward the momentum and spirit that defined England's historic night at the Azteca.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.