Tuchel admits England 'just got lucky' despite Bellingham brace sealing 2-1 win over Norway

Thomas Tuchel delivered a pointed post-match assessment after England edged Norway 2-1 in their World Cup quarter-final, insisting the Three Lions were fortunate in key moments despite advancing to the last four.

Jude Bellingham was the decisive figure, scoring twice to overturn a deficit and seal the comeback — becoming the second youngest player after Pelé to score a brace in back-to-back knockout games at the World Cup. Yet Tuchel’s mood in the aftermath was far from celebratory.

“No one disputes [that it was hot outside]. I was impressed with the team spirit, the belief and to overcome adversity and to dig in and find ways to win. Top credit for that,” Tuchel said. “But I am also a football coach, and I think we can play better. The analysing head and the football coach in me thinks we can and have to play better football. I think we just got lucky in decisive moments.”

The 52-year-old was careful to distinguish between fortune in isolated moments and an undeserved victory overall. “I don’t think we are lucky to win, but lucky in decisive moments. We could have been 2-0 down. No one ever denies that you need luck in tournament football. I see no harm in admitting it. That’s the way I felt today.”

Tuchel reserved high praise for Bellingham, describing the 23-year-old’s display as “world-class” from a player who “produces in big moments.” He also credited Harry Kane, acknowledging that England’s attacking game plan was built almost exclusively around the Bellingham-Kane partnership — though he stressed that the team’s overall attacking output must improve as the tournament progresses.

The England manager also addressed the controversy surrounding Norway’s opening goal, which many felt should have been disallowed due to a television cable making contact with the ball. Tuchel said he was unaware of the incident during the match, pointing to the chip technology in the ball as the arbiter of such decisions.

He also noted that he observed Erling Haaland visibly tiring late in the game, describing the Norwegian striker as “struggling with the physicality of the match” — a factor Tuchel suggested influenced Norway’s ability to press for an equaliser after falling behind.

Despite his critical tone, Tuchel closed with genuine admiration for his squad’s resilience. “In my heart there is no doubt that I am proud and happy because the team does whatever it takes. They overcome obstacles and adversity,” he said — though the underlying message was clear: pride in the result, but higher standards demanded going forward.