Jude Bellingham dismissed Thomas Tuchel‘s post-match criticisms of England‘s performance despite their 2-1 victory over Norway in the World Cup quarter-finals.

England reached a second semi-final in three tournaments, as Bellingham’s brace was enough to edge out a spirited Norway side, who originally took the lead.

Far from England’s best performance, it drew a passionate speech of constructive criticism from Tuchel, who hailed his side’s mentality but questioned their quality.

Bellingham hit back, calling the match “tough” as the Three Lions now await the winner of the final quarter-final tie between Argentina and Switzerland.

Tuchel’s Passionate Criticism

Paul Childs via Reuters

“We made life very difficult for ourselves,” Tuchel began. “The result is fantastic, it’s amazing, but we are not happy with the performance.” When pushed for more details, the German simply responded with, ​​​​​​​“In every sense. Sloppy, a lot of technical mistakes, not fast enough: we were lucky today.”

When asked if it was a mentality issue, Tuchel quickly hit back at ITV’s Gabriel Clarke, passionately hailing his players, stating that mentality is what drove the players to success:

Speaking on Bellingham, who netted another brace after his efforts against Mexico, he called the Real Madrid star “world-class” and claimed he produces “every single match”.

​​​​​​​Bellingham’s Bold Response

When the midfielder was told his manager was not happy with the team’s performance, Bellingham’s reply was rather eye-catching. He bluntly said:

“It’s difficult out there. A tough shift,” he added. “Character, perseverance, when things weren’t working we found a way to win a game. We gave it everything we’ve got. So proud of this team.”

Before Bellingham’s brace, a first-half strike from Andreas Schjelderup sparked the game into life, as the Benfica attacker fired an effort that toed the line between cross and shot. Regardless, it shocked England into life, who quickly hit back on the edge of halftime.

Bellingham received a smart ball from Anthony Gordon before carrying it into the box and firing low and hard past Ørjan Nyland to bring his side level. However, England had to be saved by VAR in the early knockings of the second half as Torbjorn Heggem’s goal was ruled out following a foul by Erling Haaland on Elliot Anderson.

The 23-year-old midfielder grabbed his second to settle the tie early into extra-time, netting his sixth in this tournament format, which is more than Zinedine Zidane managed across his World Cup career.

Despite their 2-1 win over Norway in the World Cup quarter-final on Saturday night, England supporters have singled out one player as reason to believe the Three Lions are being held back in their pursuit of bringing football home for the first time in 60 years this summer.

The Vikings took a freak lead in a hot and humid Miami, with Andreas Schjelderup’s mishit cross crashing off the upright of the post and into the back of Jordan Pickford’s net. Jude Bellingham levelled things before halftime for his fifth goal of the tournament, but his race wasn’t quite ran just yet.

Indeed, his nation’s hero on so many occasions, the Real Madrid midfielder scored again in extra-time, reacting quickest to a rebound to slide the ball across the goalline. Blushes were spared, but not all is forgiven by supporters just yet, as England were made to work too hard for their liking yet again.

England Fans Single Out Player That Has Held Tuchel Back This Summer

Paul Childs via Reuters

When it’s considered that Phil Foden and Cole Palmer were among the biggest ommissions from Thomas Tuchel’s final 26-man squad, there was always going to be much greater scrutiny on players like Noni Madueke. Unfortunately, he hasn’t survived the tournament without that turning to intense criticism after he was hooked off at the break.

“Madueke is shocking, how’s he starting?” One X user questioned, as another added: “You can’t start [Anthony] Gordon and [Noni] Madueke and then wonder why we can’t attack.” A third wrote: “I’m sorry but how did Madueke make this squad he’s awful,” a fourth continued: “This obsession with Madueke will cost them,” and a fifth remarked:

Another took to social media, trying to push Piers Morgan’s buttons: “@piersmorgan, your mate Madueke, shocking beyond all words….” Meanwhile, a seventh wrote: “Madueke is not good enough at this level. Been poor every time he’s played in this World Cup,” as an eighth concluded: “Madueke is a terrible, terrible player. What a disgrace.”

England Keep on Keeping on as World Cup Glory Moves Closer

REUTERS/Paul Childs

England have now reached four World Cup semi-finals. In 1966, they won their sole crown – but in 1990 and 2018, they failed to make the final. They are yet to appear to have moved out of second gear this summer, but have the hallmarks of champions with their ability to squeeze through matches and progress.

The playing style, at times, might not feel electric, nor does it feel authoritative. If anything, it feels lucky. But while Gareth Southgate squads did the same thing, the Three Lions now find themselves working under a manager who has a track record of getting his teams over the line and winning trophies.

It’s wins like ones against Mexico and Norway that build a team, and that’s the next step of England’s evolution under their German helmsman. They can’t keep relying on Harry Kane and Bellingham to get by, and that’s especially the case when they could meet Argentina in the semi-finals.

More to follow…

England‘s progression to the World Cup semi-finals were clouded by a dramatic controversy on Saturday night in Miami, as Jude Bellingham’s goal against Norway arrived only after the ball appeared to strike a camera cable in the build-up.

It was an incident VAR failed to flag, as replays of the passage of play showed the ball making contact with a broadcast camera cable before England began the move that ended with Bellingham bringing Thomas Tuchel‘s side level.

Under the laws of the game, contact with external equipment that materially aids an attacking side should result in a stoppage, and the goal *should* have been ruled off.

Instead, the officials waved play on, the goal stood, and a moment that should have handed the advantage back to Norway swung England’s way firmly, as they eventually ran out 2–1 winners.

What Went Wrong With the VAR Call?

REUTERS/Dylan Martinez

The role of the video assistant referee is precisely for this kind of incident — an interference in the phase of play that leads directly to a goal.

On this occasion, it didn’t. Whether the cable contact went unseen in the VAR booth or was judged not to have affected the passage of play, no review followed, and no correction was made. For a tournament already marred by officiating rows, it was another unwelcome addition.

Argentina’s progress has involved disputed refereeing calls, and now England find themselves at the centre of their own. Norway supporters have every reason to feel aggrieved, as a goal that ought to have been ruled out was allowed to stand at a pivotal moment.

No explanation from the officials will fully settle the sense of a decision that got away from them, especially at that time in the game and bad officiating has written itself into the story of the 2026 World Cup once again.

FIFA Issue Statement

As per Ben Jacobs, FIFA said there was “no peak on the graph” to suggest the ball hit a camera cable in the build-up to England’s goal.’ He also noted that: “Norway fuming, and their position backed up by replays. Under the rules, play should have been stopped”

In a further statement, FIFA added: Before England’s goal in minute 45+2 against Norway, the sensor in the Connected Ball showed no peak in the ‘heartbeat of the ball’ when in the air, and therefore no evidence that the ball touched the overhead wire and changed the movement of the ball.

How the Match Played Out

England’s Jude Bellingham celebrates scoring vs Norway via Reuters/Sam Navarro

Two of the competition’s great entertainers met for the fifth time at a major tournament. Whilst England began comfortably up to the first hydration break, Andreas Schjelderup fired Norway into the lead with a shot-slash-cross that will be debated, but it didn’t take long for Bellingham, and England, to hit back.

It was Anthony Gordon‘s smart pass that found him on the edge of the box and his expert touch and dribble was topped off by a fine left-foot strike to Thomas Tuchel’s side level. Kane did have the ball in the back of the net shortly after, but it was ruled out for offside as the two sides went in level.

Norway made the early running in the second half, and they thought Torbjorn Heggem had given them the lead only to be scuppered by a VAR check that noticed a push by Erling Haaland on his new Manchester City teammate Elliot Anderson. Both teams battled to full-time with the score level, with both sides experiencing extra-time for the first time this summer.

Bellingham’s extraordinary form continued after Morgan Rogers’ shot forced Ørjan Nyland to parry into the six-yard box and the midfielder was the first to react. That was the Real Madrid star’s sixth World Cup goal, as he surpassed the great Zinedine Zidane‘s entire career output.

England thought they had a chance to kill the game from the penalty spot but Djed Spence’s collision with Oscar Bobb was deemed to be fair challenge after a VAR review. It was originally given as a foul as more drama ensued. Yet, England held on for a place in the semi-finals, facing either the winner of Argentina and Switzerland.