'We're confident' - John Stones boosted by England's World Cup rearguard action against Mexico

Thomas Tuchel’s men produced one of the greatest performances in the history over English football to triumph at the Estadio Azteca against all the odds in a match that had everything.

Questions were raised about the defence after looking loose throughout the group stage and the last-32 victory over the Democratic Republic of Congo.

But Barnsley-born Stones, who came off the bench, Ezri Konsa, Marc Guehi, Dan Burn and Djed Spence all showed extreme resilience to hold on with 10 men following Jarell Quansah’s red card, standing firm against a rampant Mexico in their stronghold.

Stones said: “I think we’ve done it now, and as a player knowing and being through that experience and coming out the other end on the right side of it, it is encouraging, and knowing if we have to go through that, we were set for it.

“That’s a really nice feeling, and I feel like Marc, Ezri, the guys that have played at the back throughout the tournament have performed at such a high level.

“We’re always pushing each other throughout training to have a standard that we can set for the rest of the team, and whoever’s played in whatever position has done so well, and that should give us great confidence for going through to the next stage.

“We have depth as well. With Dan coming on, Djed coming on, myself coming on, Ezri removing to right-back.

“I mean, it’s not an easy place. I think statistically as well they’ve been so good at home.

“Ten men and for the period of time that we had to soak up a lot of pressure, and really grind it out, it was really pleasing on my behalf, and to see the reaction of the blocks, and the saves.

“Things like that, is small wins for us, as defenders, but creates us a real winning mentality and atmosphere that gets everyone pumped up.”

England’s reward for their heroic rearguard is a quarter-final tie with Norway in Miami on Sunday.

Stones, who is a free agent following his exit from Manchester City, will come up against an old friend in the shape of Erling Haaland, who has has spearheaded his country’s run to a first World Cup quarter-final.

Haaland took his tally to seven for the tournament with a double as the Scandanavians took out five-time champions Brazil in a historic result of their own.

Stones added: “An incredible player and we've got a lot of huge, huge respect for them as a team.

“We saw the result earlier, them knocking out Brazil, and that's something within its own right, and we will definitely go into the game the same as every game.

“I'm sure you've heard me say it many times in the past, but treat everyone with the same respect and know what they've got, especially with Erling, and they've kept some great defensive displays as well.

“It's one for us to kind of pick up in a few days, I suppose, and look forward to, but tonight's a special night and I think we've overcome a big hurdle.”