Jude Bellingham has pushed back against Thomas Tuchel's critical assessment of England's victory over Norway, insisting the players deserve credit for finding a way to win under gruelling conditions.

England trailed to Andreas Schjelderup's 36th-minute opener before Bellingham struck twice to complete a 2-1 comeback in extra time at Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday. The result books England a World Cup 2026 semifinal against Argentina, who defeated Switzerland later that same evening.

Bellingham defends the lads

Tuchel had praised his squad's resilience in coming from behind but drew attention in his initial post-match comments by describing the performance as "sloppy" and calling the win "lucky."

Bellingham was first asked about the remarks by ITV Sport. His initial reply was brief and dismissive: "Yeah well, whatever. It's a tough shift, so my thoughts and appreciation go to the players who've put a tough shift out there."

Later, in the mixed zone, Bellingham expanded on his view when pressed on whether Tuchel's words reflected the high standards the England manager demands.

"Maybe. Maybe he doesn't know what it's like to play in these types of conditions against Erling Haaland, [Martin] Ødegaard, [Antonio] Nusa, [Alexander] Sørloth, you know. That's not an easy team to play against. We've tried to create a positive environment, and we should continue that into the final four. I can't speak highly enough of the lads. You're not going to win every game popping the ball and making a thousand passes. Sometimes, you have to win dirty."

England also had to contend with the sweltering South Florida heat, with temperatures hitting 92 degrees Fahrenheit — 33 degrees Celsius — at the start of warmups, adding a further physical challenge to an already demanding night.

Tuchel clarifies his position

The England head coach later used his post-match press conference to offer a more rounded view, making clear that pride and professional dissatisfaction can coexist.

"My heart, there is no doubt, I am proud and happy, and I feel so connected to this team because they just do whatever it takes to take the next step. They just refuse to lose. They overcome obstacles and adversity. But I am also a football coach, and I also have demands and, of course, we want to bring out the best in us and our performance because a top performance helps you win games. So, the head of mine is not fully satisfied and not 100% happy with the way we played, and I stand by it. I think we can play faster, more clinical. We had too many unforced errors and technical mistakes in our game that cost us a lot of belief."

England now prepare for a semifinal showdown with Argentina, a tie that promises to be one of the most anticipated fixtures of World Cup 2026.