Jude Bellingham shrugged off Thomas Tuchel’s criticism of England’s display after the Three Lions defeated Norway 2-1 after extra time to book their place in the World Cup semi-finals.
Despite Bellingham’s match-winning brace in Miami, Tuchel was unimpressed with his side’s overall performance, describing it as below the standard he expects.
Bellingham brushes aside Tuchel’s verdict
Bellingham showed little concern over his manager’s post-match remarks after Tuchel labelled England’s display against Norway “sloppy.”
The Real Madrid midfielder, who struck twice in the hard-fought victory, was informed of Tuchel’s comments during an interview with ITV Sport but refused to dwell on them.
“Yeah well, whatever. It’s a tough shift, so my thoughts and appreciation go to the players who’ve put a tough shift out there.”
He also suggested Tuchel may not fully appreciate the demands of facing Norway in the difficult conditions.
“Maybe he doesn’t know what it’s like to play in these types of conditions against Erling Haaland, [Martin] Odegaard, [Antonio] Nusa, [Alexander] Sorloth, you know. That’s not an easy team to play against.”
Tuchel, meanwhile, made it clear that reaching the last four did not change his assessment of England’s display. While pleased with the result, the German coach admitted he expected far more from his players, pointing to repeated technical errors and a lack of sharpness.
“The head of mine is not fully satisfied and not 100 per cent happy with the way we played, and I stand by it.
“I think we can play faster, more clinical. We had too many unforced errors and technical mistakes in our game that cost us a lot of belief.”
The former Chelsea manager, however, dismissed any suggestion that his criticism reflected problems within the squad. He insisted his high standards should not be mistaken for dissatisfaction with the players.
“A lot of things we can do better, which is not a problem, but no disconnect from me to my team, not one per cent.
“I am full with my heart and fully in love with my players and my team and the way they perform.”
Miami conditions prove challenging
England endured a demanding contest in the Florida heat, with several players struggling physically. Declan Rice, who had been recovering from illness before the match, was unable to influence the game as he usually does.
Norway stunned England by taking the lead through Andreas Schjelderup, whose cross-shot caught Jordan Pickford off guard. England responded before half-time when Anthony Gordon set up Bellingham to restore parity.
Reflecting on the victory, Bellingham stressed that successful tournament teams must sometimes grind out results instead of relying on attractive football.
He said England had built a positive atmosphere within the squad and believes that spirit should carry into the semi-finals.
“We’ve tried to create a positive environment, and we should continue that into the final four.
“I can’t speak highly enough of the lads. You’re not going to win every game popping the ball and making a thousand passes. Sometimes, you have to win dirty.”
Bellingham’s two goals against Norway took his tally at the tournament to six, drawing him level with captain Harry Kane. He now sits just two goals behind leading scorers Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi.
England will now prepare for a heavyweight semi-final showdown against defending champions Argentina on Wednesday, with Tuchel hoping his team can produce a more polished performance while maintaining their winning momentum.
