Football - FA Premier League - Liverpool FC v Nottingham Forest FC LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, November 22, 2025: Liverpool s goalkeeper Alisson Becker during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Nottingham Forest FC at Anfield. Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda LIVERPOOL Anfield MERSEYSIDE ENGLAND PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxUK Copyright: xDavidxRawcliffex P2025-11-22-Liverpool_Nottingham_Forest-44
Jude Bellingham has launched a fierce response to Thomas Tuchel’s verdict that England were lucky to reach the World Cup semi-finals.
The Real Madrid star scored twice as the Three Lions came from behind to beat Norway 2-1 after extra time in their quarter-final clash.
England will now face Argentina in the last four, setting up a mouthwatering showdown with old rivals on the biggest international stage.
The victory was not without significant controversy, with Bellingham’s first-half equaliser allowed to stand despite the ball appearing to strike an overhead camera cable in the build-up.
FIFA were quick to respond, claiming there was “no evidence” of contact based on readings from the in-ball sensor technology used during the tournament.
Norway were further frustrated when Torbjørn Heggem’s goal was ruled out by VAR for an Erling Haaland push on Elliot Anderson, despite the contact appearing to occur before the ball had entered play.
Bellingham then delivered the knockout blow in extra time, capitalising on Ørjan Nyland’s fumble to send England into the semi-finals.
Despite the famous victory, manager Tuchel made clear he was unhappy with his side’s display across 120 draining minutes at the tournament.
“The result is fantastic, we are in the last four – it’s amazing – but I’m not happy with the performance,” Tuchel told ITV, adding: “We were lucky today.”
Tuchel expanded on his concerns, describing the display as “sloppy” with “a lot of technical mistakes,” saying his side were “not fast enough, not repetitive enough” throughout the contest.
Bellingham, fresh from his match-winning double, was unwilling to accept that characterisation from his manager when speaking to reporters afterwards.
“Yeah, well, whatever. Whatever,” Bellingham said, directing his appreciation firmly toward the players who had performed on the pitch.
“Maybe he doesn’t know what it’s like to play in those kind of conditions against Erling Haaland, [Martin] Ødegaard, [Antonio] Nusa, [Alexander] Sørloth,” Bellingham continued, underlining the quality of the opposition England had overcome.
The midfielder insisted the squad had worked hard to maintain a positive environment regardless of how performances may have appeared from the outside.
“You’re not going to win every game, popping the ball and making a thousand passes,” Bellingham said. “Sometimes you have to win dirty, and we’ve done that again tonight.”
When asked directly whether he agreed with Tuchel’s assessment that England were fortunate, Bellingham kept his answer brief and pointed: “No comment.”
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