Tuchel says he regretted not eating Azteca turf after England’s win over Mexico

Thomas Tuchel said he regretted not eating turf from the Azteca Stadium after England's World Cup last-16 victory over Mexico in July. He made the remark in an interview with Daniel Sturridge for the FA's forthcoming feature 'Reflections: England's World Cup Journey'.

Tuchel led England to the semi-finals in his first major tournament in charge. England beat the co-hosts 3-2 in the last-16 tie, playing much of the second half with 10 men after Jarell Quansah received a red card. They progressed to the semi-finals, where they lost to Argentina, then defeated France in the Bronze medal match for third place.

He made the admission during the Sturridge interview, saying: "I texted a friend after the match and I just wrote, 'I regret that I didn't eat some grass after the match to keep something from this in my body forever'. That was the feeling. That was the moment."

England's win at the Azteca was only the third time Mexico had tasted defeat at the stadium in 90 competitive matches. Tuchel called the match one of the highlights of the campaign and praised the "huge bond" within the camp, citing the reaction after Jordan Henderson suffered a tournament-ending injury after falling over an advertising hoarding while celebrating the Azteca success.

"This game had so much of what you could wish for," added the German. "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."

He said the World Cup run had cemented his relationship with the squad and that he was confident of ending England's wait for a first senior men's trophy since 1966, adding it "feels like they are my players now" and that the campaign represented "something to build on".

Tuchel added: "I'm very excited. I think we got another step closer and I think we're there." England are next in action against World Cup winners Spain on 26 September in their 2026-27 Uefa Nations League opener, with the 2028 European Championships also on Tuchel's radar.