World Cup 2026: Tuchel Slams England’s Performance Despite Win Against Norway

Thomas Tuchel admitted he was unimpressed with England’s performance in their nervy 2-1 World Cup quarter-final win over Norway.

After falling behind, Jude Bellingham’s double put the Three Lions into just their third World Cup semi-final since 1966.

Norway, who overcame Brazil in the previous round, provided a stern test and took the lead through a Andreas Schjelderup cross-cum-shot.

The Scandinavian side then really should have gone two up, but Alexander Sorloth squandered the chance to square to an open Erling Haaland on the break.

England made them pay thanks to Bellingham, with a superb run past his man and finish with his left boot.

Norway took the tie to extra time, when Bellingham yet again proved the hero. The No. 10 was quickest to pounce on a parry from Morgan Rogers’ long-range effort.

Bellingham has now struck six times in as many games at this World Cup, including another brace in the previous round, against Mexico.

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Commenting after the hardfought win Tuchel was far less complimentary about the performance of his players, stating they were lucky.

“We got lucky,” he told ITV, after a quarter-final that saw Norway take the lead, miss a great chance to make it 2-0, have a goal disallowed and also hit the bar.

“We made life very, very difficult for ourselves. The result is fantastic. We are in the last four. It’s amazing but [I am] not happy with the performance – in every sense.

“We made life difficult for us in the way we played and how we played – sloppy, a lot of technical mistakes, not fast enough, not repetitive enough.”

Tuchel said that while he “loves” the team, he also expects much more from them.

“[There is] no disconnect from me to my team,” he said.

“With my heart, I am fully in love with my players and my team, but we can play better, there are a lot of things to do better.”