Sir Geoff Hurst, the 1966 World Cup hat-trick hero, has thrown his support behind Jude Bellingham after the young star's dismissive response to manager Thomas Tuchel's post-match criticism. Bellingham, 23, scored twice in England's 2-1 quarter-final victory over Norway, securing a semi-final clash with Argentina. When Tuchel publicly stated the team had not played at their best, Bellingham simply replied 'whatever'. Hurst, 84, called the response 'fantastic' and 'so funny'.
Hurst Praises Bellingham's Attitude
Speaking to the Mirror at a Budweiser-sponsored event in London, Hurst said: 'I loved the fact that Thomas Tuchel said we were not at our best and that is exciting. Jude Bellingham's response of 'whatever' did make me laugh, that was so funny. I love that attitude, it was a fantastic response. It would not be a shock to me now if we won the World Cup.'
England's Road to the Final
England will face Argentina in the semi-final, a team Hurst described as 'one of the hardest in world football'. He recalled the tense 1966 quarter-final when England beat Argentina 1-0, a match marked by the sending-off of Argentine midfielder Antonio Rattin. Hurst noted the 'bad blood' between the nations, fueled by the 1982 Falklands conflict, but expressed confidence in England's preparation under Tuchel.
Tuchel's Historic Opportunity
Hurst highlighted that no international team has won a World Cup with a foreign manager. 'If we do win it with a German manager, we will laud him as the greatest since Sir Alf Ramsey 60 years ago,' he said. He praised the team spirit under Tuchel, calling it 'the most fundamental aspect' of winning, just as it was for the 1966 squad.
Football Coming Home?
When asked if football could finally be coming home, Hurst replied: 'I do think it is coming home. As a player you have to be positive, you have to have that to achieve what I have in the game. So the answer to 'Can we do it?' is yes. It is categorically yes.'
