Read 4 minutes15 July 2026 11:48 AM IST
England’s quarter-final win over Norway at FIFA World Cup 2026 may have been inspired by Jude Bellingham’s match-winning brace, but the performance has been remembered for the wrong reasons.
In a match that England lost heavily, two goals from Bellingham helped them overcome a 1–0 deficit in the 40th minute. The Three Lions, however, failed to impress their manager Thomas Tuchel, who was critical of the quality and technical level of the display.
“The way we played, how we played, sloppiness, too many technical mistakes, not fast enough. We were lucky today,” Tuchel said after the match.
“It’s a pure mentality thing; there was no mentality problem. You can bottle it and sell it. It’s the quality of our games. It’s nothing to do with mentality; it’s to do with quality. We need to play better,” he added.
Asked about his manager’s criticism, Bellingham said: A snarky reaction: “Maybe he doesn’t know what it’s like to play against Erling Haaland, Martin Odegaard in those kind of conditions… It’s not easy to play against. We have tried to create a positive atmosphere and we should try to get to the final four. Can’t speak highly enough for the kids. You won’t win every game by making a thousand passes. Sometimes the dirty has to win. We did it tonight. “
Former Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic believes the full context of Tuchel’s criticism may not have been accurately conveyed to Bellingham, suggesting the England midfielder’s reaction was informed by incomplete information.
“I think it’s wrong information, because if Jude had seen the interview with Tuchel, he would have answered differently… 100%,” Ibrahimovic said. Fox Sports.
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French legend Thierry Henry agreed with Zlatan’s decision but played down the significance of the exchange, insisting there was no problem in the England camp. He urged them to turn their attention to the semi-final against Argentina at the Atlanta Stadium on Wednesday.
Also read | ‘He really doesn’t know…’: England’s war of words between Bellingham and Tuchel
“Nothing has changed for me,” Henry said. “We need to talk about the game. That’s the most important thing. What is the animosity? There is no animosity. There is nothing. And I agree with Zlatan. He didn’t know how Tuchel said it. That’s it. I’ll leave it there. They’re playing well the way they want to play. They’re fighting and then we’ll think about style.”
Former USMNT international Alexi Lalas had no problem with the back-and-forth and saw it as a healthy dynamic between manager and player.
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“I don’t think it’s a problem. I really like it,” Lalas said. “I think the way Tuchel reacted a little bit differently and making sure the players know they have a lot of work to do and they can and need to get better if they hope to get home.”
Lala also praised Bellingham’s response. “I love the fact that Jude stood up for himself and stood up for his teammates. So, I don’t think the dynamic has changed. I still think that even if they disagree with each other, maybe in this instance they respect each other.”
England face Argentina on Wednesday for a place in the final, where Spain await.