The storms, the altitude, the red and yellow cards from a jumpy referee spooked by the thunderous hostility of a green-shrouded Azteca, the all-night serenading from trumpets and fireworks beneath their hotel rooms – any of the above might have cowed a lesser team.But not this England outfit.If it all feels exquisitely dramatic on a west London sofa at four in the morning, what on earth can it be like in Mexico City?The first half is blessed by the coming of St Jude – with two England goals and a miracle clearance from the ubiquitous Bellingham – before a Mexican riposte takes us on a hideous nailbiter all the way to half time.The second half induces waves of nausea as England lose a player, gain a penalty, lose a penalty and then cling on through an 11-minute eternity of extra time.As the clock strikes 4am with ten-man England still fighting, my one consolation is that the six cans of Guinness which I have chugged since midnight are alcohol-free.Four minutes later, I am on the floor, drunk on insomnia and disbelief at one of THE great games. We are through. But was it worth the pain? My wife, Diana, and 14-year-old son, Hal, certainly think so. Daily Mail columnist Robert Hardman hunkered down at home in west London to watch the match Joining him on the sofa through the night was his 14-year-old son Hal and wife Diana Jude Bellingham was the standout player for England, snatching two goals within 98 seconds in the first half It was ecstasy for the 15,000 England fans inside the Azteca as the team lined up to belt out Wonderwall after their winMy daughters, however, have opted for bed and I can't say I blame them. In retrospect, I think I'd have preferred to watch this on catch-up over a civilised breakfast. Now I have jet-lag without boarding a plane.For the whole evening is an ordeal from the start. This isn't football. It's more like yet another blasted by-election with the final result expected some time around dawn.Just 50 minutes prior to kick-off, the returning officer for Mexico City announces that kick-off will be delayed until 2am because of 'storm protocols'. And the world dares to mock British weather?All over England, just how many extra forged sicknotes, how many more 'little-Johnny's-got-a-sickbug' excuses are now being drafted for the morning? My immediate concern is for the BBC's fledgling commentary team, led by Kelly Cates. They're new and still finding their feet. And, unlike ITV's Mark Pougatch and his team of old pros, ruminating from their fancy penthouse overlooking Manhattan, the BBC team are sitting in Salford. How will they fill a whole extra hour of empty airtime at one in the morning? Rather well, as it turns out, especially insightful ex-goalie Joe Hart.The game opens with the usual surfeit of hope over expectation. I do think England always miss a trick with just one verse of the National Anthem (at 42 seconds, it's easily the shortest at this World Cup; we could have done a whole second verse last night and still have beaten Mexico). England manager Thomas Tuchel's furious gesticulating gave way to smiles and fist pumps after the relief of the final whistle A pair of England fans take in the win on the streets of London as dawn breaks over the city Three Lions supporters celebrate at Boxpark in Wembley, among the millions who stayed up to watch the matchMuch has been made of the 7,220-ft altitude of Mexico City's Azteca arena. Big deal. I have had to climb to the highest cupboard at the top of the house to find an old England T-shirt left over from the 2010 World Cup – or was it the 2016 Euros?And the Azteca Stadium might actually be cooler than west London with all that rain tipping down in the Mexican capital. 'We were expecting humid but it's fine,' says friend-of-a-friend Lee Hibberd, 39, from Essex, shouting into his phone above the din inside the ground. The City worker and England veteran has been planning this trip for years and paid the face value £520 cost of his ticket at the outset. People were offering four times that amount for it at the Doghouse Pub in Mexico City yesterday. The thought never even crossed Lee's mind.From the outset, it's clear that we are looking at an England side hugely improved from their last game. Anthony Gordon is consistently brilliant. Then Jude Bellingham heads home on 36 minutes. I return from the fridge assuming it's a replay on the telly only to realise it's his second goal in a minute. That's probably the only enjoyable moment of the game. Mexico come back and don't ease off for the rest of the night.We calm ourselves by trying to retain a sense of perspective. Yes, Mexico are a good side. But my son points out that while England's squad all compete in the top flight of their respective leagues, Mexico's star striker plies his trade for newly relegated Wolverhampton Wanderers. Five weeks from now, his domestic season kicks off against Blackburn Rovers. The only problem is that he is lethal tonight while his team are winding up the crowd after every England challenge. That is clearly winding up the ref.My wife and child have no doubts that we will triumph. 'Job done,' says Diana and goes straight to bed.However, dawn is breaking and I am still wide awake struggling to process what has happened.At least we can now lay to rest one irksome ghost of English football. Forty years ago, England were notoriously beaten by Diego Maradona and the 'hand of God' in this stadium. Last night, the Almighty did not lift a finger.