Bellingham Hits Back After Tuchel Brands England Lucky

England beat Norway in extra time to reach the World Cup semi-finals, but the mood in camp was far from celebratory after head coach Thomas Tuchel told ITV he was not happy with his side's display. According to The Guardian, Tuchel said the commitment was there but that England had made life very difficult for themselves in the way they played.

Bellingham was having none of it. Speaking after the match, the midfielder suggested his manager may not fully appreciate what it takes to face a Norway side containing Erling Haaland, Martin Ødegaard and others at this level. He argued that winning ugly is sometimes exactly what a team needs to do, and that England had done precisely that.

Asked directly by reporters whether he agreed England were lucky, Bellingham's reply was a pointed and now widely quoted two words: no comment. The exchange sets up a fascinating dynamic ahead of Wednesday's semi-final in Atlanta against Argentina, where England will need both coach and star player pulling firmly in the same direction.