World Cup: Tuchel admits England were lucky to beat Norway

England's path to the 2026 World Cup semifinals was paved with a fortunate 2-1 victory over Norway, a performance coach Thomas Tuchel described as lucky and far from satisfying. Despite securing a spot in the final four, Tuchel emphasized that the team must significantly improve its play to progress further in the tournament.

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Today we made it difficult for ourselves. The result is fantastic because we advance to the semifinals, but I am not pleased with our performance. We were lucky today. We need to play better.

Jude Bellingham was the hero for England, netting both goals after Norway had taken an early lead through Andreas Schjelderup. Bellingham's crucial equalizer came in the first half of extra time, followed by his winning goal at the start of the second half of extra time. The Real Madrid midfielder attributed the win to the team's character and perseverance, stating, "Character and perseverance brought us through this match. Even when things didn't go as expected, we gave everything we had."

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Character and perseverance brought us through this match. Even when things didn't go as expected, we gave everything we had.

Captain Harry Kane echoed Bellingham's sentiments, praising the squad's mentality for their comeback. He acknowledged the match was balanced in possession and chances but highlighted Bellingham's game-changing ability. "The players' spirit and determination brought us through this match," Kane said, underscoring the strong character of the England squad. The victory sets up a semifinal clash against the winner of the Argentina vs. Switzerland match.

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I am very proud of this team. This is a victory for everyone.