SOCCER: Bellingham's brilliance outweighs brief disagreement with Tuchel

KANSAS CITY, Missouri – England midfielder Jude Bellingham brushed aside criticism from manager Thomas Tuchel after the team's 2-1 extra-time victory over Norway in the FIFA World Cup quarterfinals, defending his teammates following a hard-fought win in difficult conditions.

Bellingham, who scored both of England's goals to send his side into the semifinals, responded after learning Tuchel had described the team's performance as "sloppy" despite securing a place in the final four.

"Yeah, well, whatever," Bellingham said when asked about the manager's post-match assessment.

The Real Madrid star said England's display should be viewed in the context of the intense heat in Miami and the challenge posed by Norway's talented attack, led by Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard.

"Maybe he doesn't know what it's like to play in those conditions against Erling Haaland, Odegaard, (Antonio) Nusa, (Alexander) Sorloth," Bellingham told reporters. "That's not an easy team to play against."

Tuchel, while pleased with the result, said he was dissatisfied with England's overall performance. The German manager described his team as sloppy, prone to mistakes, and fortunate to advance despite showing resilience under pressure.

The exchange highlighted the contrasting views between a coach focused on improving his team's performance and a player who emphasized England's determination in reaching the semifinals.

The incident also follows previous public tension between the pair. Last year, Tuchel drew criticism after describing aspects of Bellingham's on-field behavior as potentially "repulsive" to some viewers. He later apologized, saying the remark had been unintentional and was not meant as criticism of the midfielder.

Questions also arose before the tournament when Tuchel suggested that no player's place in the starting lineup was guaranteed, including Bellingham's.

Despite those discussions, Bellingham has proven indispensable during England's World Cup campaign. The 23-year-old has delivered decisive performances, scoring twice against both Norway and Mexico to help England advance.

Tuchel was also quick to acknowledge Bellingham's influence after the quarterfinal victory.

"Enough said. He does it every single match," Tuchel said. "World class."

England will face defending champion Argentina in the FIFA World Cup semifinals on Wednesday in Atlanta as they continue their bid for the title. -Reporting by Lori EwingEditing by Toby Davis/Reuters