'I've lost my voice': Kane revels in England's Azteca epic
Harry Kane could barely speak after England's dramatic 3-2 victory over Mexico at the Estadio Azteca on Monday.
By the time the final whistle sounded on a breathless World Cup last-16 thriller, the England captain had scored once, watched Jude Bellingham fire in a brilliant brace, endured a nervy finish with 10 men and, afterwards, sung himself hoarse alongside the travelling supporters.
"I've just been singing, I can't really talk," Kane said after England reached the quarter-finals.
"It was a crazy game. We had to fight and we had to find something. The occasion, the team, everything against us, we found a way."
It was a crazy game. We had to fight and we had to find something. The occasion, the team, everything against us, we found a way.
England looked in complete control after Bellingham struck twice in the space of 98 first-half seconds before Kane coolly converted a penalty to restore a two-goal cushion after Jarell Quansah had been sent off.
But Raul Jimenez's penalty sparked a frantic finale as the Three Lions clung on through 11 minutes of added time to end Mexico's dream in front of more than 80,000 home supporters.
Kane also questioned one of the game's key decisions after being penalised for the challenge that led to Mexico's second goal from the spot.
"I thought I got to the ball first, it was one of those days," he said. "The referee gave a lot of decisions against us. In the end it didn't matter. So I'm happy."
If the closing stages tested England's nerve, the celebrations afterwards reflected the magnitude of what they had achieved. Kane reserved special praise for the England fans, who had made themselves heard throughout a hostile evening at the Azteca.
"Incredible, unbelievable support," he said.
"[I'm] speechless."
England head coach Thomas Tuchel hailed his side's resilience after they overcame high altitude, a partisan crowd and the setback of playing more than half an hour with 10 men.
"Very proud," Tuchel said.
"We needed everything. It was super difficult. In the moments we thought we caught the momentum, we had setbacks. That is the proper mentality."
We needed everything. It was super difficult. In the moments we thought we caught the momentum, we had setbacks. That is the proper mentality.
The German believes England's refusal to buckle under pressure is becoming one of their defining qualities.
"This team really mean it. When the going gets tough, they never give up, they never lose belief. It was one step more.
"We need to take this in. This is Azteca, it's Mexico, a crazy game. We left everything out there, every single one of us. We need to take this in, now it's full steam ahead."
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. England's reward is a World Cup quarter-final against Norway, but after conquering the Azteca in one of the tournament's wildest contests, Kane and company have already produced a night they are unlikely to forget.
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