Forget Kane or Bellingham... it was Starmer who won it! PM claims credit for England's dramatic win as he confirms he 'stepped in' to stop FIFA moving kick-off amid fears Mexico 'were trying to gain an advantage'

Forget Kane or Bellingham... it was Starmer who won it! PM claims credit for England's dramatic win as he confirms he 'stepped in' to stop FIFA moving kick-off amid fears Mexico 'were trying to gain an advantage' - See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source It might have been Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham who scored on the pitch - but Keir Starmer has also claimed credit for England's dramatic win over Mexico. The Prime Minister today confirmed he stepped in to block world football's governing body FIFA from bringing forward the kick-off time for the Three Lions' World Cup clash. On Friday, around 54 hours before the last-16 tie at the Azteca stadium in Mexico City was due to begin, there were reports the match could be held six hours earlier than originally scheduled. Forecasts of extreme weather and safety concerns for fans were said to be behind the last-gasp bid by FIFA to change the kick-off time to 7pm UK time on Sunday. But the proposed rescheduling sparked anger as it would have left England with less time to prepare for the energy-sapping conditions at the Azteca, which sits at 2,240m above sea level. In the end, the plan to bring forward the kick-off time was dropped and the game actually began an hour later than its scheduled 1am UK time on Monday, due to thunderstorms in the local area. In the wake of England's nerve-shredding 3-2 victory over tournament co-hosts Mexico, Sir Keir was asked about reports he had intervened to stop FIFA moving the match. 'We had to battle with the FA (Football Association) to get it back to where it was, which was counterintuitive,' the PM told guests on Monday afternoon at a Downing Street garden reception for NHS staff. It might have been Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham who scored on the pitch - but Keir Starmer has also claimed credit for England's dramatic win over Mexico The Prime Minister confirmed he stepped in to block world football's governing body from bringing forward the kick-off time for the Three Lions' World Cup clash A Tory source said: 'Where's this Keir Starmer been the whole time?' It followed claims that Sir Keir told the FA he opposed bringing forward the game because it would give Thomas Tuchel's team less time to adapt to the altitude in Mexico City. A source told The Sun: 'The Mexicans were really talking up the storm and were pressing to move the game. 'But Keir was having none of it and suspected they were trying to derail the England preparations by giving less time to adapt to the altitude, so he put his foot down.' Downing Street insiders played down suggestions that Sir Keir had directed the FA to stand firm against a change to the kick-off time. Rather than ask the PM if he would accept moving the time of the match, the FA is instead said to have alerted Sir Keir to the issue and explained why it would be a problem so that the Government could intervene via diplomatic channels. Amid the chaos over the kick-off time for the match, there were fears that many England supporters with tickets to the game might have missed it had it been brought forward. There were two flights that landed in Mexico City from Atlanta - where England's previous match against DR Congo had been held - at 9.55am and 11.55am local time on Sunday. Had the match been shifted to 12pm local time on Sunday - rather than 6pm local time - then many Three Lions fans would have struggled to make it to the Azteca in time. The England Supporters' Travel Club was given an official allocation of 3,000 tickets for the game.