Tuchel: “I regret not eating some grass” after Mexico win

“I regret not having eaten some grass afterwards, so that I would always have something of this moment in my body,” Thomas Tuchel told viewers in the documentary *Reflections: England's World Cup Journey*.

The England manager made the remark while reflecting on the team’s round-of-16 match against Mexico during this summer’s World Cup. England won 3–2 despite falling behind 1–2 and losing defender Jarell Quansah to a straight red card, which extended the lead to 1–3 before Mexico pulled one back to make it 2–3.

The documentary chronicles England’s full tournament campaign. The team ultimately secured third place by defeating France 6–4 in the third-place play-off.

What the Mexico match meant to Tuchel

Tuchel described the Mexico fixture as emotionally charged and complete in narrative arc. He cited Jordan Henderson’s injury immediately after the final whistle as emblematic of the squad’s cohesion: Henderson fell over advertising boards and broke his arm, prompting teammates to halt celebrations and form a protective circle around him within seconds.

“This match had everything,” Tuchel said. “And if you still needed proof of what this meant to the players and how they treated each other, it was the moment when Jordan fell and broke his arm.”

Tournament progression after Mexico

England advanced to the quarter-finals, where they defeated Norway 2–1. They then lost to Argentina in the semi-finals before claiming bronze with the 6–4 win over France.

UEFA Nations League A action is scheduled for 26 September 2026 at 20:45.