Jude Bellingham had a one-word retort to Thomas Tuchel's fury over England's performance against Norway. The Real Madrid star's response of 'Whatever' is sure to spark uncomfortable questions about the rapport between the England boss and his star player.
Bellingham's Heroics in Miami
Bellingham was England's saviour in Miami as they defeated old mate Erling Haaland and a stubborn Norwegian team, netting twice including a first-half leveller and an extra-time decider. Ironically, as 'Hey Jude' echoed around the Miami Stadium, Tuchel unleashed his wrath on his players during an ITV interview.
Tuchel's Criticism
The German was far from impressed with what he'd seen from his squad, unhappy with a display that saw them go behind and then rely on a VAR reversal to prevent them from trailing 2-1 in the second half. Tuchel stated: 'We made life very difficult for ourselves today. The result is fantastic, we're in the last four, it's amazing, but no, I'm not happy with the performance.' He added: 'In every sense. The commitment is there but we made life very difficult for us, in the way we played, how we played. Sloppy, a lot of technical mistakes, not fast enough, not repetitive enough. We were lucky today.'
Bellingham's Response
When asked about Tuchel's displeasure, Bellingham replied: 'Yeah, well, whatever. Whatever. It's difficult out there. It's a tough shift. All the players have put in a very tough shift. My thoughts and appreciation goes to the players who have put in a tough shift once again.' Earlier, when questioned about England's advancement, he said: 'Character, perseverance, even when things weren't working. We found the way to win the game again. Whether it's in 90, 120, we'll give everything we've got. You saw that there. So proud of this team once again.'
Tuchel's Praise for Bellingham
Despite his criticism, Tuchel was full of praise for Bellingham, stating: 'Enough said. He does it every single match. World class.' Bellingham now boasts six goals in the tournament.
