Thomas Tuchel expressed a unique regret about not eating the grass at Azteca Stadium following England's thrilling 3-2 victory over Mexico in the last-16 of the World Cup in July. This match, notable for England playing much of the second half with 10 men after Jarell Quansah's red card, propelled the team to the semi-finals, where they faced defeat against Argentina, but later secured third place by beating France.

In an interview with Daniel Sturridge for the FA's upcoming feature 'Reflections: England's World Cup Journey', Tuchel shared his whimsical thought:

I regret that I didn't eat some grass after the match to keep something from this in my body forever. That was the feeling. That was the moment.

This victory marked a significant milestone, being only the third time Mexico lost at the stadium in 90 competitive matches. Tuchel highlighted the strong camaraderie within the squad, particularly noting the players' immediate response to Jordan Henderson's injury, which occurred during celebrations after the match.

He described the scene:

Within a second, the players were there... in full empathy. It was so special.

Looking ahead, England will face World Cup winners Spain on 26 September in their 2026-27 UEFA Nations League opener, with aspirations for the 2028 European Championships also on Tuchel's agenda. He expressed confidence in ending England's wait for a senior men's trophy since 1966, stating, "It feels like they are my players now" and emphasizing the importance of their World Cup journey as a foundation for future success.

Tuchel concluded with optimism:

I'm very excited. I think we got another step closer and I think we're there.