Tuchel quells Bellingham doubts as England set sights on Argentina

Thomas Tuchel gathered his England squad in the dressing room on Wednesday, insisting there is no problem with Jude Bellingham, the Real Madrid midfielder, ahead of the World Cup semi‑final against Argentina in Atlanta. The German tactician wanted to put any doubt to rest before the clash. He emphasized unity and focus, stating the team must remain concentrated on the task at hand. Tuchel said the meeting was intended to silence speculation and keep the players aligned. After England’s quarter‑final win over Norway, comments sparked debate, prompting Tuchel to hold a clear‑the‑air meeting with the entire squad. The session addressed rumours of a rift with Bellingham and aimed to prevent distraction. When asked about the manager’s criticism of the team’s performance, Bellingham replied with a brief “whatever”. Tuchel interpreted the reaction as a product of the context surrounding the question, not a sign of dissent.

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Tuchel later told reporters via the Telegraph that there was “no problem”, confirming he had spoken to the whole team and debriefed them. He added the matter was already addressed internally and that the new direction now points to the semi‑final showdown vs Argentina.” The coach praised Bellingham as a “world‑class player”, noting the midfielder’s two goals in England’s dramatic win over Norway. He highlighted that Bellingham’s contribution on the biggest stage underscores his quality. Tuchel, a former Chelsea boss, said the pair share the same competitive mentality and that Bellingham’s reaction was understandable after a physically demanding 120‑minute battle against the Scandinavians. He recalled the intensity of the Norway encounter. He joked about his own modest playing career, saying you don’t need to be a horse to be a good jockey, and expressed respect for players who reach football’s highest levels. With the Bellingham situation now firmly behind them, Tuchel’s full focus has turned to Argentina. England prepare for one of the biggest matches in their history, hoping to reach another World Cup final, with the winner set to face Spain after they eliminated France in the other semi‑final.