Tuchel Unmoved By England Performance Despite World Cup Advance
England beat Norway 2-1 in extra time to reach the 2026 World Cup semi-finals, but manager Thomas Tuchel criticized his team's sloppy performance despite praising goalscorer Jude Bellingham as world class.
England advanced past Norway 2-1 in extra time during the 2026 World Cup quarter-finals on July 11, securing a semi-final berth against the winner of Argentina and Switzerland. Manager Thomas Tuchel downplayed the victory, saying he was dissatisfied with the team's overall performance. "I'm not complaining about difficulties, I never do," Tuchel stated. "We made things very difficult for ourselves today. The result is brilliant—we're in the semi-finals, which is amazing—but I'm not satisfied with our form in every aspect." He acknowledged the team's commitment but pointed to careless play, technical errors, and lack of pace and continuity. "We were lucky today," he added. "We will improve. We have to. Now it's time to celebrate and absorb everything. We have three days. We want everything." Tuchel offered special praise for Jude Bellingham, who scored both goals: "Nothing more to say. He does this in every match. World class."