By OLIVER TODD, DIGITAL HEAD OF SPORT and BOBBY MANZI, FOOTBALL REPORTER

Published: 04:19 BST, 6 July 2026 | Updated: 05:31 BST, 6 July 2026

Harry Kane delighted England fans with a squeaky post-match interview after the epic 3-2 win over Mexico at the World Cup – before revealing a bizarre injury to Jordan Henderson in the celebrations.

Kane had clearly lost his voice, singing Wonderwall in front of the England fans at one end of the Azteca stadium, and struggled to get his words out in a pitchside interview immediately after. 

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‘It was a crazy game,’ Kane told the BBC. ‘We had to fight and we had to find something. I’ve just been singing, I can’t really talk. The occasion, the team, everything against us, we found a way.

‘It was one of those days where the ref gave a lot against us. In the end it didn’t matter. I’m happy. 

‘Incredible, unbelievable support. [I’m] speechless! 

But more worryingly, Henderson – a non-playing substitute – collapsed on the Azteca pitch and required medical attention for an injury to his arm. 

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Jordan Henderson (in purple) was taken off the pitch on a stretcher at the Azteca after England’s win

Kane, Henderson (far right) and the rest of England’s players celebrate their Azteca win

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The 36-year-old fell flat on his face when climbing over the advertising hoardings and back onto the pitch after celebrating with the England fans. 

Kane said: ‘Jordan just fell over there, I think he’s OK, just something to do with his arm.’ 

But England boss Thomas Tuchel later confirmed his injury was more severe than Kane thought. 

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‘Not good, not good,’ Tuchel said. ‘It looks really bad, he’s injured his wrist.’

But Henderson had to leave the pitch on a stretcher and was seen in a heap behind the goal.

Jude Bellingham added: ‘He’s in a bit of bother, but our medical team have got everything under control. 

‘It’s probably best not to say too much when I don’t really know what was going on. But everyone was there to support him, and even that was a beautiful thing to see.’

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As Jordan Pickford punched away the umpteenth Mexican cross and the Australian official blew the final whistle, Jude Bellingham collapsed in victory inside the England penalty area. Battered, bruised, exhausted. Sometimes, the Real Madrid midfielder’s histrionics are a tad questionable. Not this time.

The magnitude of the stage – the World Cup’s most iconic stadium – was inescapable. England were public enemy No 1, facing the co-hosts in their near-impenetrable fortress. And at an altitude of 7,200m, Bellingham did not catch his breath: he was simply breathless.

Nobody rose to the occasion more than England’s talismanic attacking midfielder on Sunday night. And it wasn’t just his goals, which were brilliant by the way. It was his last-ditch tackles, his phenomenal hold-up play, his output off the ball, his motivational barks at his teammate, his wondrous quick feet.

And as the big screens cut to Bellingham amidst the downpour of the pre-match warm-up and he looked up, a wipe of his brow perhaps foreshadowed the 90 minutes ahead. His inference was simple: this was to be his stage.

Whether it be a debut in El Clásico, a Champions League final or major international tournaments, nothing brings the best out of Bellingham – still only 23 years of age, the youngest England player ever to reach 50 caps – like the grandest of arenas.

The cauldron of the Azteca, with thunder in the skies and on the terraces, felt like a momentous cultural occasion as opposed to a football match. The one-hour delay only added to the spectacle. And the order of the day was ear-splittingly simple: rousing cheers for the hosts, deafening jeers for the visitors.

And it takes some recalling to remember that Mexico were actually well on top after half an hour. Yet one Declan Rice surge down the pitch, one chipped Bukayo Saka cross and one diving Bellingham header set England on their way.

Simple enough, on paper. Yet off-beat, Bellingham’s slightest of faints to go near post before shifting to the back post, leaving forlorn Mexican marker Roberto Alvarado for dead, made the goal. Without it, Saka’s cross finds a deserted patch of grass.

Ninety-eight seconds later, Bellingham had his second. England won the ball from kick-off, Bellingham fed Harry Kane who reversed with pinpoint accuracy for Bellingham who, in his midfield battle with Mexico’s dogged Erik Lira, beat him to the punch again here.

There were other solo highlights. A goal-saving challenge on the stroke of half-time at the back post. A dazzling run, beating two men for dead in midfield on-the-turn before taking it – as the best sometimes do – a step too far. An audacious attempt from the halfway line which, though it looked unthreatening, had Mexico goalkeeper Raul Rangel backpedalling.

Even a one-minute retention of the ball in the corner in stoppage time triggered the customary sight of Bellingham geeing up the home supporters; a gesture which appears to be his favourite thing to do in this tournament.

It was a sumptuous performance, laced with supreme skill and unwavering determination. To think Thomas Tuchel dropped him from the squad eight months ago is now, well, unthinkable. As England prepared to run towards their fans in celebration at full-time, Bellingham raced to Tuchel and the pair exchanged the biggest of bear hugs, memories of maternal repulsiveness a distant memory.

The German boss has England’s star performers, Bellingham and Kane, the goalscorers again, firing bullseyes and desperate to one-up the other. It is the pairing which has England fans, drunk with joy in Mexico City and euphoric on caffeine back home, dreaming that perhaps something special is in the offing this summer.

“I was born in 1939 in Redcar but we got bombed out of there and moved in about 1942 to 27, Auckland Terrace, and I remember we were playing out in Garbutt Street and we heard a hell of a racket: there was this plane going up Auckland Terrace, so low he knocked a couple of chimney pots off.”

Last weekend in Shildon, a plaque was unveiled dedicated to the seven airmen who were killed on May 31, 1944, when their Short Stirling bomber crashed out of low cloud into fields where the Jubilee estate is today.

READ FIRST: SEVEN AIRMEN WERE KILLED WHEN THEIR BOMBER GOT CAUGHT IN A THUNDERHEAD

The plaque to the seven airmen who were killed in Shildon (Image: Andy Futers)

But Kenneth’s crash is different.

It took place on January 25, 1946, and involved a de Havilland Mosquito on a training flight from RAF Middleton St George.

“He must have come from Redworth way,” says Kenneth. “He went over the Hippodrome and he was heading up the bank but struggling to keep the plane up.

“He went over the top and disappeared, and then we heard a hell of a bang and saw a cloud of smoke.”

The Northern Echo the following day said: “It appears that the plane had been heard circling round in dense fog, apparently looking for a landing ground. It passed low over the houses and seemed to turn at South Church.

“On its return, it crashed through a tall hawthorn hedge, somersaulted and disintegrated.”

A de Havilland Mosquito, like the one which Kenneth saw crash near Shildon (Image: PA)

It broke up in fields to the west of Adelaide Bank, which runs from Shildon down into South Church.

“We ran up the bank to the reservoir and got 50 to 100 yards from the crash scene; one wing was sticking up in the air,” says Kenneth, who now lives in West Cornforth. “We were turned away when a big green van with a red cross on the side turned up.”

The two airmen, the pilot and his navigator, were killed outright. The Echo said that two women, Miss Lanchester and Mrs Newton of Adelaide Terrace, “were first on the scene and they found the bodies”. A detachment of soldiers carried them off to Bishop Auckland hospital mortuary.

“I worked as a farmer for 65 years, and I’ve worked on that farm,” says Kenneth. “Every time I ploughed that field, I thought of those lads. The hedgeback that they hit is still damaged, as is the one where they found a body.

“I was once asked to plant up those hedges but something stopped me from doing it in those two places – it is a war grave to me.”

The plaque to the seven airmen who were killed in Shildon (Image: Andy Futers)

• Memories 789 told of the crash on May 31, 1944, when seven airmen from RAF Wigsley in Nottinghamshire got caught in a thunderhead cloud as they approached Shildon. The pilot dived so steeply to escape that the tail broke off, leaving a trail of debris a mile long until the plane came to earth where Weardale and Teesdale walks are now on the Jubilee estate. The plaque, unveiled in the community centre, has been erected by local historians led by Alan Ellwood and commemorates the men’s sacrifice.

Karina Blanco was just about to start the spinning class she teaches when the earth began to shake. The tremors kept getting stronger, so she grabbed her bag and ran outdoors with everyone else.

“When I realised the magnitude of it, I started screaming ‘my daughter, my daughter’. I sat in my car and drove as fast as I could,” said Karina.

Her only daughter, Fabiana, 12, was at their home when two powerful earthquakes rocked Venezuela within seconds of each other on 24 June. The second quake was one of the strongest tremors to hit the country in a century, at a magnitude of 7.5.

When Karina reached her building in Caraballeda, in northern La Guaira state, she could hardly believe her eyes. “I could see one building, then a gap where my building stood, and then another building.”

Inside their first-floor flat in the 10-storey building, Fabiana was in her mother’s bedroom when she felt the earthquakes. She ran into the kitchen, and was holding on to the counter, when the walls around her collapsed. She was thrown to the ground.

“I saw things shaking, falling, breaking, and then the walls cracked. The wall separating my apartment from a friend’s collapsed. At that moment, I thought, ‘I’m going to die. I won’t survive this. No-one is going to rescue me,’” said Fabiana.

From then began an excruciating 32 hours.

Outside the collapsed building, Karina saw half of her daughter’s bed sticking out of the debris.

“I was running from one end of the complex to the other screaming ‘She’s dead. My daughter is dead’. I didn’t know what to do,” said Karina.

Under the collapsed building everything had gone quiet for Fabiana. She was lying face up, trapped by rubble on all sides, with the ceiling almost touching her face.

“I’m someone who gets very anxious and claustrophobic. But I don’t know why, a strange calm came over me. Maybe my mind was in shock,” she said.

A little while later, a nurse who worked as a carer for her upstairs neighbours started calling out to see if anyone could hear her. Fabiana responded.

“She told me to stay calm and that everything would be alright,” said Fabiana.

Six hours after the earthquake, at around midnight, the nurse was rescued. She told the volunteers who pulled her out that a girl named Fabiana was alive inside.

“I had surrendered to God asking for strength to begin a new life without Fabiana. And then someone told me, ‘Your daughter is alive’,” said Karina.

She ran back to the building screaming into gaps in the debris, calling out her daughter’s name.

The England midfielder had been celebrating with his teammates moments earlier

England star Jordan Henderson was taken away on a stretcher after hurting his arm during his side’s celebrations in the aftermath of their win over Mexico.

Thomas Tuchel’s side defeated the tournament co-hosts 3-2 in a hugely dramatic last-16 clash at the Azteca Stadium, with goals from Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane enough to see them seal victory. They will now face Norway in the quarter-finals next week.

After securing the win, the entire England squad celebrated with the travelling fans, belting out Oasis classic ‘Wonderwall’, which they have adopted as their anthem for the tournament.

However, during the celebrations, it appears that Henderson suffered a worrying injury, with the Brentford midfielder caught on the BBC coverage lying seemingly in agony on the ground on the other side of the advertising hoardings.

His teammates were seen signalling for medics to come to his aid and, according to reports from the stadium, Henderson promptly received medical treatment at the side of the pitch.

The players appeared to form a huddle around the veteran midfielder, who was then taken away on a stretcher.

Hundreds of England supporters are expected to head to pubs across Bolton for the Three Lions’ World Cup last 16 clash against Mexico, despite the match kicking off at 1am on Monday, July 6.

Venues across the borough have reported strong demand, with some fully booked and others expecting hundreds through their doors for the overnight fixture.

Stephen Hoyle, from Hogarths, said: “My prediction’s going to be 1-0 England.

“It will be massive, I think it will be unbelievable.”

Hogarths is not taking bookings for the match but expects between 400 and 450 people to watch the game, making it one of the busiest nights the venue has seen during the tournament.

(Image: Bradley Collyer/PA)

Several other pubs have also reported high levels of interest as supporters look for somewhere to watch England’s biggest match of the competition so far.

Billy Higham, from ROOM Westhoughton, said: “Oh, God, I think England will win it 2-1.

“We’ve got 75 people showing up.

“It’s massive for us lot.

“I mean, we’re showing the other England games, but this one by far the biggest and we’ve filled upstairs and downstairs, we’re pretty much fully booked.”

The Hulton Arms is expecting around 100 supporters through the doors for the match.

A spokesperson said: “My prediction is going to be 2-1.

(Image: Archive)

“We’ve got about 100 booked in and a few more that’s coming.”

Andy Ireson, from The Poacher, said: “I think personally, it’ll go to penalties and it could go either way.

Because we’d never had anything like this before, we haven’t got a clue what’s going to happen.

“I just hope it goes well and the result goes in our favour.

“Obviously with Mexico’s record, never losing a World Cup game in that stadium, it doesn’t bode well.

“However, they’ve never had hydration breaks before. In here, it will be people who want to enjoy the game in a relaxed, comfortable atmosphere.”

(Image: Sophie McGrath)

Sophie McGrath, from the Duke of Wellington, said: “Do you really want to hear my prediction? 2-0 to Mexico.

“It’s going to be tiring, but I’m excited, think it’ll be crazy. It’s going to be great.

“We’re expecting about 30 people.”

England face co-hosts Mexico in the World Cup last 16, with the winners progressing to the quarter-finals.

The match kicks off at 1am BST on Monday, July 6.

In The Mixer’s World Cup special

Everything you need to know about the World Cup – England updates, the games to watch and stories you missed – in five minutes, at 1pm, every day.

Claire Garbutt, from Hovingham, cut her hair to raise money for the Pendragon Community Trust which has helped her friend’s autistic and non-verbal son.

She said she regularly takes her friend Donna Beadle’s three-year-old son Grayson to the trust’s multi-sensory centre in Northallerton.

The 64-year-old, who works at Thomas the Baker in Helmsley, praised the centre, saying Grayson is “relaxed” while there and “enjoys it so much”.

Claire Garbutt before shaving her head to raise money for the Pendragon Community Trust (Image: Supplied)

She also said the facility offers respite for parents of SEND children.

The centre provides a safe space for people with special educational needs and disabilities.

It is a fully padded area with a giant soft slide, interactive walls and floors, a ball pool, a waterbed and more.

The Pendragon Community Trust offers sessions for adults, children and toddlers/babies at the centre.

Claire Garbutt after shaving her head to raise money for the Pendragon Community Trust (Image: Supplied)

Claire said she wanted to raise money for the centre, deciding to take part in a sponsored head shave on Wednesday, July 1, at the Cutting Shed, between Helmsley and Beadlam.

It was the second time that Claire had shaved her head for charity after previously cutting her hair off some years ago to raise money to support cancer research.

“Pendragon did the Northallerton 10k [to raise money] and I thought, I can’t run or walk that – what can I do to help them?” she said.

“I just thought, I’ll have my head shaved again.”

Claire raised £1,259 for the Pendragon Multi Sensory Centre through her efforts and is still accepting sponsorships via the Cutting Shed.

“I’m overwhelmed with the support and a special thank you to Anna who shaved my head from the Cutting Shed,” Claire said.

“My target was £1,000 so I’m absolutely over the moon I’ve got more. I can’t thank everyone enough for their support and generosity.”

On her new hairdo, Claire said: “It’s been fun. People have said I look younger which helps.”

A spokesperson for the Pendragon Community Trust thanked Claire for her support.

“We are very, very happy that Claire chose us as a charity to raise money for,” they said.

“We are always looking for people to fundraise for us and we’re very grateful when people do.

“Claire regularly visits the centre with the little boy she supports, and we are really grateful to her for doing this.”

For more information about the Pendragon Multi Sensory Centre, visit www.pendragon-ct.org/multi-sensory-centre/

By BOBBY MANZI, FOOTBALL REPORTER

Published: 03:04 BST, 6 July 2026 | Updated: 04:29 BST, 6 July 2026

BBC iPlayer has crashed for some viewers during England‘s World Cup round of 16 clash against Mexico. 

Fans have taken to social media complaining about delays, the coverage intermittently dropping out, connectivity problems and insufficient video quality.

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Some supporters posted on X claiming they had heard celebrations from their local pubs and their neighbours’ houses before seeing Jude Bellingham‘s goals on iPlayer. 

According to DownDetector, the volume of user reports first surged around 1:54AM BST – just six minutes before kick-off at the Azteca. 

Despite that, there was no reference to snags during the broadcast. Instead, viewers were urged to pay for their TV Licence – if they have not already – before the start of the second half.   

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Fans in pubs spoiled the goals for local residents watching on BBC iPlayer

Reports of coverage problems on iPlayer spiked after midnight

One fan on X heard shouts from the pub before seeing Jude Bellingham’s opener

This fan says iPlayer completely cut out

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There were further complaints about delays on iPlayer

 One user on X labelled the Beeb ‘absolutely useless’

iPlayer was seemingly overwhelmed by the demand

This fan received a goal notification from the Beeb before the ball hit the back of the net on their screen

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Should frustrated viewers demand compensation when live sports streams fail during major matches?

Many fans were left frustrated after the coverage of the Three Lions’ round of 32 clash against DR Congo cut out unexpectedly for several seconds.

In the 53rd minute of the match, BBC screens suddenly froze as Jude Bellingham collected the ball inside the penalty area.

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Over 15 seconds later, the screens returned to the sound of fans inside the stadium reacting loudly, but BBC viewers were left guessing over what had happened.

Replays soon showed that Bellingham had shimmied inside the penalty area and forced an important save out of Lionel Mpasi.

Meanwhile, the Beeb’s ‘work from home’ World Cup has also raised eyebrows.  

While ITV broadcast from a plush New York City studio with the stunning backdrop of the Manhattan skyline, the BBC’s coverage is coming from their Salford base.

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The BBC are expected to head out to North America at some point during the knockouts, but have yet to confirm when their pundits and hosts will jet across the Atlantic.

Amusingly, at half time during England’s match against Mexico, BBC pundit Joe Hart remarked of the impassioned scenes at the Azteca: ‘I wish I was in that stadium’.