England manager Thomas Tuchel expressed mixed feelings after his team secured a 2-1 extra-time victory over Norway, propelling them into the 2026 World Cup semi-finals. Despite the milestone, Tuchel described the performance as sloppy and insisted that England were lucky to advance. He criticized the team’s slow pace and lack of sharpness during the match in Miami.
Jude Bellingham, who scored both goals for England to negate Andreas Schjelderup’s opening strike, appeared frustrated by his manager’s public assessment. Following a demanding 120 minutes in intense heat, the Real Madrid star emphasized the physical toll taken on the players. England now looks ahead to a semi-final showdown in Atlanta against either Argentina or Switzerland.
The victory was not without controversy, as England benefited from two significant officiating decisions. Bellingham’s first goal stood despite claims it hit an overhead camera, and Norway saw a second goal wiped out by VAR due to a foul by Erling Haaland. Tuchel stood by his comments regarding good fortune, noting that luck is a necessary component of deep tournament runs. Nevertheless, the manager lauded Bellingham’s world-class contribution, noting that the midfielder has now matched Harry Kane with six goals in the tournament.
