How adversity forged England's belief against Mexico

Playing at altitude in Mexico City's Azteca Stadium against a side that had lost just two of their previous 89 competitive internationals, England's task became even more difficult when Jarell Quansah was sent off. Yet rather than allowing the circumstances to overwhelm them, England responded with discipline, composure and belief.

Dr Gareth Jowett, senior lecturer in Carnegie School of Sport, explains the psychology behind this:

“The performance highlighted key principles of elite performance psychology. Instead of dwelling on factors they could not control, such as the altitude, hostile crowd or numerical disadvantage, England focused on their organisation, work rate and decision-making. By accepting the challenge rather than viewing it as a threat, they found solutions under intense pressure.

“Jude Bellingham epitomised that mentality. After previous disappointment over his role under Thomas Tuchel, the midfielder responded with two goals and an outstanding all-round display, demonstrating the psychological flexibility to put setbacks behind him and focus entirely on the task at hand.”

While one victory guarantees nothing in tournament football, England's triumph over Mexico has provided the squad with something invaluable: proof that they can overcome adversity on one of the biggest stages. That belief could become one of their greatest strengths as the World Cup progresses.