England came out on top of a World Cup classic at the Estadio Azteco on Sunday to progress to the quarter finals. The Three Lions defeated Mexico 3-2 in a thriller, marking the hosts’ first defeat at the venue in tournament history.
Two goals from Jude Bellingham in as many minutes gave the European side the lead towards the end of the first half.
However, their rivals responded quickly after before a red card for Jarell Quansah left the game wide open.
Harry Kane doubled the lead again with a penalty in the 60th minute but only briefly as Raul Jimenez responded in kind, leaving Mexico a goal to get with a quarter of the game to go.
As El Tri went all-out on attack, England’s number one Jordan Pickford rose to the occasion with a spree of brilliant saves to keep his team ahead.
The Everton keeper dominated the box while crosses flooded in, authoritatively punching them away before they could be converted into a shot. His valiant efforts eventually proved enough as England held on for a brilliant win.
If the performance was not world class enough, Pickford backed it up with an even better post-match interview.
Speaking to BBC, the 32-year-old called it a “great game” for himself. However, it was the way he signed off with a tribute to Joe Hart, who was present in the studio, that quickly went viral.
“Harty, it was deceeent [decent]”, Pickford exalted on the mic.
The exaggerated manner in which he said decent, elongating the word with a particular emphasis on the second syllable, left the reporter chuckling.
Pickford added some more theatrics for it by using a groany, deep voice and had a naughty grin on his face.
If you could get Jordan Pickford on ritalin or any ADHD medication you’d unlock his brain like Bradley Cooper in Limitless. pic.twitter.com/UifJPsgsoy
— Tom (@tomfahy93) July 6, 2026
The ‘decent’ was a throwback to a decade and a half old meme originated by Hart.
After Manchester City won the FA Cup in 2011, breaking a 35-year trophy drought, Hart was asked on the field how it felt.
Much like Pickford, Hart capped off his feeling with an exaggerated “decent” in a comical heavy voice. He then continued to scream it around, disrupting interviews of other players in the background.
During the season-end celebrations at the Etihad Stadium, Hart was asked for an explanation.
All he proffered was that it was the only way to describe things when all his teammates were “buzzing off”. He repeated an exaggerated “decent” twice for good measure.
HOW DARE YOU STAND WHERE HE STOOD https://t.co/raCpwPucAs pic.twitter.com/oB4gDmUj5c
— 🇧🇪🇪🇸 (@selfcontrI) July 6, 2026
Since then, the meme has followed Hart wherever he has gone. And in his usual freewheeling ways, the former England keeper has never tried to live it down.
With England set to take on Norway in the quarterfinal in Miami on Saturday, Pickford will be hopeful he gets to feel “decent” a few more times. Hart undoubtedly will be backing him from Salford to do the same.
