What the victory over Mexico revealed for England

What the victory over Mexico revealed for England

According to Championat.

Context

Former England international Michael Owen expressed concerns about the team's mentality following the victory over Mexico. He emphasized that England must avoid the illusion that a single victory can guarantee success in such a competitive tournament, as demonstrated by his critical analysis of the team's performance.

Why this matters

Майкл Оуэн's analysis of England's victory over Mexico at the 2026 World Cup highlights the team's emotional fragility. The excessive confidence generated by the victory may have contributed to the elimination in the semifinals, revealing that momentary success does not guarantee continuation in the tournament. This type of reflection is crucial for the England team's preparation, especially with the upcoming World Cup in mind.

Main conclusions

• What the victory over Mexico revealed for England.
• Michael Owen believes that the victory over Mexico in the 2026 World Cup generated exaggerated confidence in England, which ended up resulting in their elimination in the semi-finals.
• «Победа над Мексикой — худшее, что могло случиться». Оуэн — об эйфории, погубившей Англию.

England's victory over Mexico in the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup, which ended 3-2, may have been one of the worst things to happen to the team. This is according to former England striker Michael Owen, who expressed his concerns about how this triumph generated a false and dangerous sense of euphoria among players and fans. "What happened in that match was not in the plans for a World Cup win, but rather a defeat," Owen said. He recalled that, after the game, many considered the performance to be one of the best in the team's history, while he was criticized for warning about the dangers of this euphoria. For Owen, the victory ended up deceiving the team, which began to believe that it could accommodate itself. "That victory was considered a great spectacle, and I was called a pessimist for saying otherwise. The truth is that it deluded everyone, including the players themselves. They came to think that they could retreat and defend the advantage, and that this would be enough to be celebrated as heroes. This is a great illusion. To really maintain the advantage, you need to control the game, score a second goal and show that you were better throughout the match", he added. Owen also emphasized that England were not prepared for what was to come, as the team were paralyzed by the possibility of losing. The feeling of fear took over, and the team began to self-sabotage. After that match, England faced Argentina in the semi-finals, where they were eliminated, and now, on July 19, they will seek third place against France. Argentina, in turn, qualified for the final and will face Spain. This analysis by Owen not only reflects a criticism of the team's performance,but it also serves as a warning about the importance of maintaining concentration and humility, even after important victories in a tournament as prestigious as the World Cup. The lesson here is clear: a victory should never be a reason to relax, but rather a stimulus to continue seeking excellence, especially in a championship where each game can be decisive.

What happens next

With England preparing to face France in the fight for third place, the team will need to learn from the mistakes highlighted by Owen. The pressure to recover after elimination can influence the performance of players, who must avoid the trap of complacency. The focus must be on controlling the game and demonstrating resilience, especially in a high-level tournament like the 2026 World Cup.