While England may favor the Oasis anthem “Yeah, well, whatever. Whatever,” their recent victory calls for a different tune that resonates more with the occasion.
Reporter Gabriel Clarke excelled in capturing post-match insights from both Thomas Tuchel and Jude Bellingham, showcasing their reactions in the flash zone.
Tuchel appeared animated and wide-eyed, akin to Spud during his memorable job interview in Trainspotting.
Bellingham, on the other hand, seemed unfazed by any implied critiques from the German regarding the team’s performance.
When prompted to address the criticism, Bellingham did not hide his displeasure. “It’s difficult out there. It’s a tough shift. All the players have put in a tough shift, so my thoughts and appreciation goes to the players who were out there and put in a great shift yet again.” he remarked, his body language reflecting his thoughts. “Maybe he doesn’t know what it’s like to play in those kind of conditions against Erling Haaland, [Martin] Ødegaard, [Antonio] Nusa, [Alexander] Sørloth. That’s not an easy team to play against. So, I think we’ve tried to create a positive environment. You’re not going to win every game, popping the ball and making a thousand passes. Sometimes you have to win dirty, and we’ve done that again tonight.”
In another interview, Bellingham elaborated, “At the risk of being the 1,000th to say it – it’s the Cable of God,”
“I can sit here and cry but I don’t want to do that,” quipped George Peacock.
It’s best to enjoy those jokes now, as the phrase “We have done everything we could – the players have been phenomenal throughout the tournament. OK it was bizarre but it’s part of football and why it is the best sport in the world because things like that can happen. We have to accept it.” will undoubtedly be overused in the days to come.
Norway expressed their frustration over England’s first goal, which was allowed to stand despite the ball seemingly hitting a cable connected to an overhead TV camera. This incident enabled Elliot Anderson to gain possession unchallenged and set up Anthony Gordon for the assist.
Ståle Solbakken commented, “I can sit here and cry but I don’t want to do that. We have done everything we could – the players have been phenomenal throughout the tournament. OK it was bizarre but it’s part of football and why it is the best sport in the world because things like that can happen. We have to accept it.”
FIFA later issued a statement indicating that a sensor in the ball showed no signs of contact with the cable.
Ed Aarons assessed Noni Madueke as England’s least effective player. Meanwhile, on US television, Zlatan Ibrahimovic added fuel to the fire with a halftime tirade suggesting England was effectively playing with ten men.
Despite his success in bringing the team to the World Cup semifinals, Tuchel’s decisions regarding unused and underperforming squad members will offer intriguing material for future analysis.
There were notable performances elsewhere as well, with Djed Spence making a significant contribution at left back, Morgan Rogers injecting much-needed energy, and Dan Burn proving that even in today’s era of passing and possession, it’s still sensible to include a big player when defending a lead.
Barney highlighted the perplexing absence of Kobbie Mainoo, who has not participated in England’s campaign thus far despite being a viable option off the bench in earlier matches and an obvious choice in this one.
Tuchel went to great lengths to avoid using him against Norway, opting instead for an exhausted Declan Rice, who was replaced by Eberechi Eze in a role that unsettled the entire structure, followed by a partially fit Reece James as he attempted to address self-inflicted issues.
Over the course of 120 minutes, the central midfield pairing rotated from Declan Rice and Anderson to Bellingham and Anderson, then to Reece James and Anderson, and finally to Morgan Rogers and Anderson. Notably absent was Kobbie Mainoo, who seems to be trailing behind David Beckham, a traffic cone, a giant lizard, and the TV camera cable in the pecking order. Why is Mainoo even here? Why is Adam Wharton not here? These are questions that deserve genuine answers.
Barney Ronay was in Miami to witness the latest chapter in Jude Bellingham’s remarkable journey. Amidst the well-deserved praise for England’s two-goal hero, there are growing concerns regarding a team that has lost its edge and a coach who appears uncertain about his optimal lineup.
“At times this felt like the familiar England parade of we are the hollow men, stuffed men, waiting for the game to happen to them, football as a slow suffocation in that thick sweet air. But they also had Jude Bellingham, who seems increasingly to exist as an entirely different category of human in this team, out there playing a parallel tournament, one that has to this point swept the rest of them along in its wake.”
Whether you’re just catching your breath after an exhilarating double-header or waking up to the excitement of two thrilling quarter-finals, stay with us for all the latest news and reactions from the captivating 2026 World Cup.
Only four teams remain in contention, with England and Argentina joining France and Spain in the semifinals. For the first time since FIFA’s rankings were introduced in 1992, the World Cup semi-finalists are the top four teams in the world on paper.
Although England faced a challenging match against Norway in the Miami heat, Jude Bellingham once again rose to the occasion when it mattered most.
Argentina also needed extra time to overcome their European rivals, with Julian Alvarez stepping up as their hero. They owe a debt of gratitude to Breel Embolo, who was sent off just as Switzerland was on the brink of a historic result.
If you have any thoughts on any of the above, or any other World Cup-related topics, feel free to reach out via email at jonathan.howcroft.freelance@. Let’s dive into the discussion!
