Jude Bellingham sparked injury concerns after he was seen clutching his shoulder during and after England's dramatic 2-1 World Cup quarter-final victory over Norway on Saturday. The 23-year-old scored both goals for the Three Lions, taking his tournament tally to six, but footage showed him applying pressure to his shoulder area during a drinks break while speaking with manager Thomas Tuchel.
Shoulder Issue Recurrence?
Bellingham underwent surgery on his shoulder last summer and missed Real Madrid's opening four La Liga fixtures of the 2025/26 season. Spanish publication Diario AS captured him grasping at his shoulder blade as he walked to the mixed zone after the match. Despite the visible discomfort, Bellingham has shown no sign that the injury is affecting his performance at the World Cup.
Tuchel's Criticism Sparks Response
After the match, Tuchel described England's display as “sloppy, lucky” and not good enough “in every sense” during a television interview. When informed of the remarks, Bellingham pushed back, saying: “Yeah, well. Whatever, whatever. It's difficult out there. It's a tough shift. All the players are putting in a very tough shift. My thoughts and appreciation goes to the players who were out there and put in a great shift yet again.”
He added: “Maybe he doesn't know what it is like to play in those kind of conditions against Erling Haaland, Martin Odegaard, Antonio Nusa and Alexander Sorloth. That's not an easy team to play against.”
Bellingham's World Cup Form
Bellingham has been instrumental for England, netting six goals so far. His double against Norway included a magnificent strike that helped secure a semi-final spot against Argentina, who beat Switzerland in extra time. Despite the tetchy exchange with Tuchel, the pair are expected to remain united as England push for a World Cup final berth.
