Thomas Tuchel tells England stars to 'listen to staff' as lip reader reveals Norway rant
Thomas Tuchel didn't hold back on his thoughts on England's performance after the match - and it appears he gave his players an earful during the game as well
Thomas Tuchel tore into his England squad during a fiery touchline rant, demanding they work harder and follow the staff's instructions, according to a lip reader. England went behind in their quarter-final against Norway after Andreas Schjelderup's fortunate goal, but clawed their way back, eventually winning 2-1 in extra-time thanks to Jude Bellingham's brace.
The Real Madrid midfielder netted the equaliser on the brink of half-time and then three minutes into extra-time. But the Three Lions had little to show for in the first half, and the hydration break became a chance for Tuchel to lay into his players and warn them against the disappointment of heading home.
According to lip‑reader Nicola Hickling, Tuchel delivered some harsh home truths to his players. Assessing the footage, Hickling claimed to the Daily Mail that Tuchel said: "Work harder. Go faster. You're so static. You're just standing.
"I need to tell you... Listen to the staff. We've got to fight for our positions. Listen to the staff. Keep the ball low. Less pushing, more focus on the ball. At corners, you've got to go right.
"Don't come from the front [directed at Anthony Gordon]. Your best position is on the right - that's a fact. Every time you come from the front, the ball gets lost. Now listen: keep right, stay right."
Despite Tuchel's blast from the bench, it was Norway who emerged from the hydration break looking sharper.
John Stones surrendered possession inside the England box moments later, almost handing Erling Haaland a golden chance before Jordan Pickford raced out to collect the ball.
Haaland soon had another sight of goal with a close‑range header, and England were punished shortly after. A loose touch from Harry Kane during a counter‑attack sparked Norway's move, ending with Schjelderup sweeping home an intended cross.
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Tuchel's message finally began to land, though, and England struck right on the cusp of half‑time. They kept that intensity all the way through extra time, where Bellingham delivered the winner with his second of the night.
However, the German boss remained far from satisfied with his side's overall display.
"We were lucky," he told ITV after the game. "We made life very, very difficult for ourselves today. The result is fantastic, we're in the last four. It's amazing (but) I'm not happy with the performance.
"The commitment is there but we made life very, very difficult for us in the way we played, how we played. Sloppy, tactical mistakes, not fast enough. Not repetitive enough. We were lucky enough."
Bellingham, however, seemed to take a different view from his manager.
"Maybe," he said when asked whether the criticism was justified. "But maybe he [Tuchel] doesn't know what it's like to play in those kind of conditions against Erling Haaland, Odegaard, Nusa, Sorloth.
"That's not an easy team to play against. So, I think we've tried to create a positive environment. We should continue that going into the final four.
"I can't speak highly enough of the lads. You're not going to win every game, popping the ball and making 1,000 passes. Sometimes you have to win dirty, and we've done that again tonight."
The 52-year-old boss then went on to clarify his remarks, adding: "No one suggests that I'm not impressed with the shift that they put in, the effort, the spirit, the belief. To overcome adversity and to dig in and to find ways to win is on the absolutely highest level.
"They cannot get enough praise for that. But I'm also a football coach and I think we can play better. There's no doubt I'm proud, and I'm happy and I feel so connected to this team because they just do whatever it takes."
England will now face Argentina in the semi-finals, with that match scheduled for Wednesday, July 15 (8pm).
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