Mexico move one step closer to England World Cup knockout clash

To the ear-splitting delight of another teeming crowd and the pitiful plight of a South Korean goalkeeper, Mexico came through a maelstrom of a match to plant their green, red and white and flag atop the A Group in this World Cup.

And with it the vaulting possibility of inviting England to the breathless altitude of Mexico City in the round of the last 16.

If that confrontation is half as heart-stopping as this then the non-acclimatised may find themselves gasping for air as well as at blazing excitement.

That this breathtaking duel at break-neck speed should be settled by the clumsy error by one Kim Seung-gyu which might come to haunt him for the rest of his life was a personal tragedy. One looping 50th minute cross, one dropped ball at the feet of a grateful Luis Romero and for all their monumental striving the Koreans could not find an escape. Not even when they launched a final assault born of desperation and refusal to surrender could they breach the ramparts of Mexicans on a patriotic mission.

Viva Mexico. Come again Korea who are not out of it yet. It would be a shame to lose them after all they put into this one. All in vain in the teeth of controversy which might have distracted the most dedicated. Not that Mexico came through tranquil waters to exultancy.

Mexico became the first team to seal their spot in the knockout stage of the 2026 World Cup

There had been excavations in process on the hillside over looking the Guadalajara Stadium before Mexico’s second and they were hoping decisive match in the first stanza of Fifa’s marathon campaign. 

They were searching for bodies who were among the 134,000 souls who have disappeared from the face of Mexico in the last 18 months. 

As for their opponents there is television, newspaper and radio silence between the South Korean team and their country’s media. An angry stand-off because reporters were caught on a hot-mic mocking and insulting their superstar Son Heung-min.

World Cups are never just about the football.

Mexico City, where this tournament kicked off a week ago, is torn between demonstrations against the embattled government and colourful street parties on match night. Especially nights as captivating as this. Another blessing is that the homicide rate falls during World Cups as the passion for football temporarily surpasses the murderous power of the cartels.

Meanwhile the Koreans have been subjected also to espionage of a manner far beyond Southampton’s pathetic sending of a kid with a camera to spy on opponents at practice from behind a tree.

A military scale drone was brought down by the army as it began to encircle their training ground during a closed session on tactics.

Since the intervention was wrought by the Mexican forces there is no suggestion from the Koreans that the host nation were involved. 

Although they would be less than human if they were not quietly hoping that Son Heung-min would be distracted by a false accusation of draft dodging and snide remarks that at his age, 33, he now ‘runs like an old general'. 

El Tri fans celebrate their 1-0 win over South Korea in Guadalajara on Thursday night 

Mexico goalkeeper Raul Rangel (right) made a series of stunning saves to preserve the lead

Tottenham fans and Premier League observers will doubt that having watched him rifle in the goals right up until he left Spurs last autumn for Los Angeles FC. On that move, he explains: ‘I came to America to familiarise myself to the conditions and atmosphere in which this World Cup will be played.’

As it happened he did not look quite himself in the pipe-opener against the Czech Republic. Missing a couple of clear chances. Even so they won 2-0.

With Mexico also victorious on day one of Mundial 2026, the winners would top the group. By doing so they would set up a possible last 16 round with England. Maybe, given how Kane and Co played in Dallas the other night, could it be more strategic to come second? 

But it is always risky to play the options rather than the match. So both opted to go for it. Gung-ho to put it in Korean parlance. If they did harbour thoughts of retribution then of course their first target was Son. 

Lee Jae-sung replicated the stamp by Lionel Messi which went unpunished In this case it drew a yellow card. For this he would be whistled to deaf for the rest of a night which was developing into a high-speed thriller in front of another packed and voluble crowd.

Our Son-y Boy's 15th minute response came with an exquisite chip over the keeper. Only for West Ham’s Edson Alvarez to clear with an acrobatic overhead kick from beneath the crossbar. At the other end a minute later Julian Quinones steered a free header weakly at the Korean keeper. But it was our hosts who had to ride out a storm as the first half ended.

Luis Romo scored in the 50th minute after a defensive error goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu

Mexico came back with revised strategy. Defend and counter. In less than five minutes it gave them the lead. Albeit with a lot of help from Poor Kim Seung-gyu as he came for an awkward cross. But not tricky as to excuse him dropping the ball. A grateful Luis Romo rolled it into the empty net.

There thrills galore thereafter but no more goals.

To sharpen the pain for Korea’s keeper his opposite number was the hero not only of the hour but the last minute of normal time

Raul Rangel somehow upwardly parried a shot at point blank range. As it came down he punched it into the air again then grasped the ball amid a flurry of flying boots,

He held on to it as fell and clutched it to the grass inches short of the line.

How lives and careers can be made or broken at World Cups.

How nations can be moved by a game of football.

Jesus Gallardo celebrates with the fans in the stands after the final whistle is blown