Pubs and clubs across the West Midlands stayed open for fans to watch the England victory, as they beat Mexico 3-2 at the Azteca Stadium.
Stourbridge’s own Jude Bellingham scored twice in the space of 98 seconds before half-time, sending crowds into a frenzy of celebration.
His advice to fans watching the game?
“Have another shot and text your bosses to say you’re not coming in tomorrow.”
Ashley Price, from Willenhall in the West Midlands, was at the Azteca and said it was the “greatest game of football I have ever been to in my life.”
“I’m not joking – the stadium was literally shaking, bouncing,” he said.
The Mexico fans were “brilliant,” he added, “so passionate”.
“It’s just been unbelievable, I can’t believe what I’ve just watched, to be honest.”
While Thomas Sproulle, from Shropshire, was also in the stadium and added: “I’m totally lost for words. It was surreal.
“It was like going into a church or a cathedral. What a special place.”
Lee Vaughan, from Shrewsbury, said the trip to Mexico was “worth every penny”.
“I think the experience I’ve had tonight it the best I’ve ever had in football,” he said.
“My head feels like it’s on Mars.”
“It’s had to put into words,” he added, “I think we knew how difficult this game was going to be – and Mexico made that so, so difficult tonight.
“It was such a rollercoaster, you couldn’t have scripted it. We’ve come here and we’ve done a job. We march on.”
Pupils at Villiers Primary School in Bilston have all been avoiding the news, as the school is showing the match in full this morning.
Assistant head teacher Carly McKenzie said she had promised pupils her social media feeds would be turned off “and I wouldn’t tune into anything at all”.
“However,” she added, “I am a very light sleeper and heard some cheering in the early hours this morning, so I’ve got a bit of a feeling, but who knows, we’ll see this morning with the children”.
Bik Singh, from The Maggies pub in Hall Green, Birmingham, stayed open until 05:00 and said it was a “wonderful experience”.
“We didn’t really know what to expect, but the result, obviously, was the icing on the cake,” he said.
“It just felt like everyone was on holiday, it just felt like everyone was on a year abroad in one of those bars.
“It was busy, I had to actually pull my finger out and do some work, but when the game started it got serious and customers were really focussed Ito the game.
“Letting everybody out we were trying not to make too much noise, but everyone was so happy and cheerful – and just what a massive result that was.”
Even the BBC Weather Watchers are getting in on the England action.
User Hazlenut posted this image, taken in Penkridge, Staffordshire, remarking they were “over the moon this morning”.
Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
