England's World Cup odyssey: storm delays, tactical mastery and a snubbed star

The storm broke over Mexico City just before kick-off, lightning and heavy rain delaying England's last-16 tie by an hour. When the deluge finally relented, Thomas Tuchel's side emerged from the downpour as 3-2 winners – a victory that, according to assistant coach Anthony Barry, was carved from patience. 'We prepared the players that up until the first water break it would be a difficult game. We would have to suffer. Mexico always start fast. We knew 0-0 would be a good result at the break,' Barry said at half-time. That measured approach saw England deliberately slow their usual high-intensity pressing. 'We are fully committed to our press, but it's not economical. We need to be smart and pick the right moments,' Tuchel had said before the match. And so they did, using Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and an extra forward to cut off Mexico's build-up – but also choosing when to retreat. The shift was stark: England had averaged 12.1 seconds to recover the ball in their first four World Cup games; in the first half against Mexico, that figure ballooned to 37 seconds. Midfielder Elliot Anderson held his position deep, close to the centre-backs, preventing the easy out-ball. The effect was a match that felt like 'five smaller games', as Tuchel's tactical nous steered England into the quarter-finals, where they will face Norway in Miami on Saturday evening. But while the squad celebrates, one man left behind is already plotting his return. Cole Palmer, overlooked by Tuchel after a difficult Chelsea season blighted by injuries and a drop in form that yielded only 11 goals, has been training furiously with coach Harry King – clips on Instagram show him honing his shooting, dribbling and passing in sunny conditions. The 24-year-old, who scored in the Euro 2024 final, told The Times: 'Every player that plays football wants to be at the World Cup, but it's a decision that I cannot change and a hard one, for whatever reason. I know what I could have offered – something different to what the manager has picked.' Speaking to iD magazine, he added: 'I'm not crying over a decision you can't change, and I hope the lads make it all the way. I'm going to relax this summer, rest for the first time in three or four years, before getting back to what I love.' The Chelsea star, now under new boss Xabi Alonso, seems determined to prove doubters wrong: 'If you're told you're, essentially, not good enough then you're going to want to prove people wrong.' As England prepare for Norway, Palmer's absence remains a talking point – one he intends to silence with actions, not words.