Comedian Josh Widdicombe experienced a mixed night of emotions while attempting to watch England's World Cup match against Mexico, ultimately missing the first half due to an ill-timed nap. The game, which kicked off at 1 a.m. UK time, required an all-night vigil for enthusiastic fans.
Widdicombe had meticulously planned his viewing strategy, even converting his bed into a makeshift sofa to stay alert. However, his efforts to rest before the match proved counterproductive. A video shared by the comedian chronicled his bleary-eyed attempts to wake up, exacerbated by a delay in the kick-off to 2 a.m.
Despite his initial slumber, Widdicombe was roused by news that England had taken a 2-0 lead, thanks to two goals from Jude Bellingham. His engagement with the match intensified as it progressed, culminating in a moment of jubilation where he was seen kissing his television screen after England secured a 3-2 victory.
The match itself was a dramatic affair, with England overcoming a hostile atmosphere and altitude at the Estadio Azteca. Goals from Bellingham, Harry Kane, and a late winner secured the victory after Mexico had equalized. The game also saw a red card for England's Quansah and a penalty awarded to Mexico.
Widdicombe captioned his video of the night's events, "Sleeping on the sofa to watch England, how it worked out for me…" He declared he would not be going back to sleep until Saturday, anticipating England's quarter-final match.
Millions of fans stayed up for the game, with many more waking to the news of England's triumph. The win was hailed by some as England's best performance since 1966. Player of the match Jude Bellingham encouraged fans to celebrate and take the next day off work.
England's victory sets them up for a quarter-final clash against Norway in Miami. The win also served as a symbolic avenging of a past World Cup defeat involving Diego Maradona's controversial "Hand of God" goal against Mexico 40 years prior.