Tuchel slams 'sloppy' England as Bellingham hits back ahead of Argentina semi-final

Thomas Tuchel called England’s performance ‘sloppy’ and ‘lucky’ moments after their World Cup quarter-final win over Norway, sparking a public rift with his star player Jude Bellingham. The England boss watched his side toil in the Miami heat before scraping a narrow extra-time victory, but his post-match appraisal – ‘we need to play better’ – did not sit well with the team’s double goalscorer and man of the match. ‘I loved his interview,’ Alan Shearer declared on BBC Radio 5 Live. ‘It was brilliant. Without doubt he was sending a message to his players.’ But Bellingham pushed back against his manager, launching a firm defence of his teammates. The disagreement must be resolved before Wednesday’s semi-final against Argentina – a side already nursing injury concerns over Lionel Messi, who received treatment during a hydration break after suffering a knock. Argentina’s squad also carries fitness doubts over two other unnamed players. The Three Lions will wear their home shirt, while Argentina have requested permission to use their away kit. The stakes could not be higher: 38 years ago, Diego Maradona single-handedly dominated England in the 1986 World Cup quarter-final, leading Argentina to victory with a performance that still haunts the nation.