ENGLAND boss Thomas Tuchel criticised ITV’s “unfair question” to Jude Bellingham that led to a fiery response following a dramatic quarter-final victory over Norway.
The Three Lions punched their ticket to the World Cup semi-finals after a over Erling Haaland and co during extra-time on Sunday thanks to a brace by Bellingham, 23.
England boss Thomas Tuchel slammed the ‘unfair question’ directed to Jude Bellingham after the Norway win Credit: 2026 PA Media
Bellingham issued a fiery response after being asked about Tuchel’s post-match criticism Credit: ITV
The Real Madrid superstar spoke to ITV after his and was told Tuchel, 52, was “not very happy” with his players’ performance against Norway during his own post-match interview earlier in the evening.
, Bellingham said: “Yeah, well, whatever. Whatever. It’s difficult out there. It’s a tough shift.”
suggested his port-match comments were taken out of context in Miami.
The ex- boss understood Bellingham’s stroppy response as he was drained after a “world class” performance.
And the German tactician claimed his star midfielder was confronted only with the critical elements of his manager’s statement and none of his complimentary comments.
Tuchel told talkSPORT: “What do you expect of a player that just played 120 minutes and gave literally everything if you shorten the comment of his coach, if you don’t tell him that ‘He was world class’, if you don’t tell him, ‘He has world class actions’?
“If you just cut all this and tell him, ‘Oh, your coach said you were sloppy’, what do you expect?
“Yeah, of course you get the comment that you get and then you try to blow it up and people try to create misunderstandings and cracks where no cracks are.
“We come from the same place, we come from being competitive. I am a competitive coach. I push this team to the limit and that was my assessment.
“I think the question was unfair in this moment to Jude because he cut all the compliments out of my assessment and just asked about the critical points, so I can understand.
“What do you expect of a player that just gave everything and stands there in front of a microphone in a flash interview?
“It’s just what it is but we’re as close as ever, and close more than ever before.
“You can see that on the field. The energy and mentality in camp is excellent in the last days and we are ready to go for it tomorrow.”
Tuchel confirmed he with and co ahead of tonight’s semi-final with at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.
captain also played down any tension between the ex-Paris Saint-Germain boss and Bellingham.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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