​England are marching into the World Cup semifinals after a 2-1 victory over Norway, powered by a heroic double from star midfielder Jude Bellingham. Yet as the celebrations began, England manager Thomas Tuchel kept his focus on what the players still need to improve, labeling the win as “lucky” and criticizing the team for “sloppy” tactics. When reporters pressed about Tuchel’s pointed remarks, Bellingham handled it with measured pragmatism, downplaying the coach’s comments.
“Yeah, well, whatever,” Bellingham said. “It’s difficult out there … All of the players have put in a very tough shift.” The postmatch din on Fox Sports took on a sharper edge, with Tuchel openly dissecting England’s shortcomings after the win. “The commitment is there, but we made life very, very difficult for us in the way we played, how we played,” Tuchel said. “Sloppy, a lot of technical mistakes, not fast enough. Not repetitive enough. We were lucky today.” He added, “We will get better. We need to get better. Now it’s celebration, and now it’s taking it all in. We have three days, we need everything. We need a better performance.”
Bellingham, when again queried about Tuchel’s criticisms, acknowledged that his coach might have expected more tactically, but suggested the realities on the pitch were different from those imagined in the stands. “Maybe he doesn’t know what it’s like to play in those kinds of conditions against Erling Haaland, Martin Ødegaard, Antonio Nusa, Alexander Sørloth. That’s not an easy team to play against,” he told DAZN Football. “I think we’ve tried to create a positive environment, we should continue that going into the final four. I can’t speak highly enough of the lads.” Bellingham’s two goals — the equalizer just before halftime and the vital strike in extra time —sealed England’s path to the semis.
Tuchel, a coach decorated across Europe with stints at top clubs such as Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, and Bayern Munich, joined England in 2025 as head coach, succeeding Gareth Southgate, who stepped down after England’s Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain. Under Tuchel, England have advanced smoothly through the group stage and into the knockout rounds, dispatching DR Congo, Mexico, and now Norway on their route back to the semifinals. The Three Lions are aiming to reach the World Cup final for the first time since their 1966 triumph, chasing a return to a stage they last graced more than half a century ago.
Looking ahead, England’s journey resumes on Wednesday, when they will meet the winner of the Argentina-Switzerland clash in Atlanta for a place in the World Cup final. The team’s fans are hopeful that the combination of Bellingham’s star-level performances, the renewed tactical approach under Tuchel, and the squad’s collective grit will propel England toward their first World Cup final in six decades. The Semifinal showdown promises to be a stern test, but victory could set up a storied rematch or a long-awaited clinching moment, as England continue their pursuit of football’s ultimate prize.