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England manager Thomas Tuchel said his team were "lucky" to squeeze past Norway 2-1 after extra-time to reach the World Cup semi-finals, but praised "world-class" Jude Bellingham after his two goals dragged the Three Lions to victory.A furious Tuchel was in little mood to celebrate despite England reaching the last four for just the fourth time in history after Bellingham's double overturned Andreas Schjelderup's opener."We made life very, very difficult for ourselves today," Tuchel said in an animated on-field interview moments after his team's win."The result is fantastic. The last four is amazing, but I'm not happy with the performance."The commitment is there, but it made life very, very difficult for us in the way we played, how we played, sloppy, lots of safety, not fast enough, not enough. We were lucky today."Bellingham was less than impressed with his manager's reaction."Whatever. Whatever," said the Real Madrid midfielder after a gruelling 120 minutes in the searing Miami heat. 'IT'S DIFFICULT OUT THERE'"It's difficult out there. It's a tough shift. All the players are putting in a tough shift. So my thoughts and appreciation go to the players who put in a good shift out there."England will now face either Argentina or Switzerland in Atlanta on Wednesday as they attempt to reach the World Cup final for the first time in 60 years.Tuchel said later he had no doubt over his players' effort but was adamant that his team would need to improve to progress further in the competition."I'm impressed with the shift that they put in, the effort, the belief and to overcome adversity and to dig in and find ways to win is on the absolutely highest level," the German coach said at the post-match press conference."Full credit to the team, we found a way in the last four. This is of course the most important but the analysing head of me and the football coach still thinks that we can and have played better football."England were fortunate in two major refereeing decisions. GOAL ALLOWED TO STANDBellingham's first goal was allowed to stand despite Norwegian protests that the ball had struck the TV camera suspended above the pitch in the build-up.Norway also had a second goal disallowed in the second half after a VAR review for a foul by Erling Haaland before a corner had been taken."We were lucky. I stand with that," added Tuchel."No one ever denies that you need luck to go far in tournament football. You need moments where you're lucky, otherwise it's just not possible"I see no harm in admitting it. It's just the way I felt."Tuchel was more fulsome in his praise for Bellingham, who again rose to the ocassion to be a national hero.After scoring twice in England's memorable 3-2 win over Mexico in the Estadio Azteca in the last 16, Bellingham moved alongside Harry Kane on six goals in six games at this World Cup with his two goals in Miami."World-class performance from a world-class player," said Tuchel. "In big, big moments, crucial moments, he was absolutely top class." 

Jude Bellingham was England's hero once more by scoring twice as the Three Lions came from behind to end Norway's historic run and reach the World Cup semi-finals with a 2-1 win after extra-time on Saturday.In their first ever quarter-final, Andreas Schjelderup fired Norway into a shock lead in the searing Miami heat.But Bellingham, who also netted a double in a memorable 3-2 over Mexico in the last 16, produced a moment of magic to equalise just before half-time.Norway had a second goal controversially disallowed after a VAR review in the second half for a foul by Erling Haaland as both sets of players were pushed to their physical limits by going to extra-time.Bellingham came up with another big moment as he pounced on an error by Orjan Nyland to sweep in his sixth goal of the tournament.England will face Argentina or Switzerland on Wednesday for the chance to reach a first World Cup final in 60 years.Haaland's spectacular run of scoring in his last 14 competitive matches for Norway came to an end against the land of his birth with Norway's exhausted talisman replaced at half-time of extra-time.Having failed to win a World Cup knockout game after conceding first since the final of 1966 before this tournament, England have now done so twice in three matches. Energy-sapping heat Harry Kane's heroics prevented an embarrassing early exit to the Democratic Republic of Congo in the last 32.But it is Bellingham who has stood up in the past two matches to keep England in the hunt to end their long wait for major tournament glory despite far from flawless performances.The 5:00 pm local time (2100 GMT) kick-off in Florida meant that temperatures remained above 30 degrees Celsius throughout, with intense humidity making for draining conditions for the players.The heat looked as if it would spoil the spectacle in the first half.Thomas Tuchel's men were rattled as England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford saved low from Martin Odegaard before Alexander Sorloth wasted a glorious chance when he failed to feed Haaland and instead went for goal himself.Almost immediately Bellingham pulled his team out of the mire once more.Bellingham had been well marshalled until he collected Anthony Gordon's pass, burst into the box at speed and then slotted home on his weaker left foot.Momentum was suddenly in England's favour and they nearly went into the break ahead.Bellingham was this time the creator for Kane, who dinked the ball coolly over Nyland, but had just drifted offside.Tuchel introduced Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze at the break for the ineffective Noni Madueke and Declan Rice - the Arsenal midfielder had been suffering with illness earlier in the week.But those changes left England light in midfield and they were left hanging on at spells in the second half.Torbjorn Heggem made the most of some sloppy defending to turn in at the back post, but Haaland was penalised for a push on new Manchester City teammate Elliott Anderson before the corner had been taken, and the goal was disallowed.Norway were inches away from a winner again when Kristoffer Ajer hit the bar after England fail to deal with another dangerous corner.Both sides visibly wilted in the energy-sapping conditions late on but were forced to endure an extra 30 minutes.Nyland had been Norway's supporting act in the last 16 win over Brazil with a series of saves before Haaland struck twice late on for a landmark victory.This time the Sevilla goalkeeper was the villain as he spilled substitute Morgan Rogers' shot from distance and Bellingham pounced and scored.England were awarded a penalty moment later, but this time VAR intervened in Norway's favour to deem Djed Spence had initiated contact inside the box.Yet, Norway's spirit was already crushed, epitomised by a slouched Haaland watching on from the bench with nothing more to give.

England boss Thomas Tuchel said a thrilling 3-2 win over Mexico at the Estadio Azteca felt like winning a final as they overcame huge adversity to reach the World Cup quarter-finals. Led by a double from Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane's penalty, the Three Lions shrugged off the effects of playing at high altitude, a frenzied home support for the co-hosts and playing for over 45 minutes with 10 men. "I felt in the build up it never felt like round a 16 match. It feels almost like we won a final this last moment the referee takes the whistle to his mouth," said Tuchel. "Forty or 50 minutes in altitude against a home country, this is a moment of joy. A heroic performance and a heroic result in the end. "So happy for the players, but also for me, to be part of this and live this experience. Such a special moment and to overcome it against all adversity is very special." However, a historic night ended was soured for Tuchel by an injury suffered by Jordan Henderson from falling over an advertising board in the post-match celebrations. The former Liverpool captain, who was an unused substitute, has been taken to hospital with a wrist injury that puts his participation in the rest of the tournament at risk. "I'm exhausted and emotional", added Tuchel. "Jordan injured his wrist, it just doesn't fit to the evening that Jordan is not with us. "I don't know the procedure, the doctor told me he is in the hospital." Victory also laid to rest some of England's demons from defeat to Argentina at the Azteca in the World Cup quarter-final 40 years ago. Diego Maradona famously punched the ball into the net before going on to score an incredible solo goal in a 2-1 win. Defending champions Argentina and England could be on a collision course in the semi-finals, but for now Tuchel is refusing to look beyond Norway, who stunned Brazil earlier on Sunday thanks to Erling Haaland's double. "I will not talk about the semi-final when I am just into the quarter-final. Now we have the chance for some days off," he added. I will go one full day without football and then we will look at Norway. "We had a very sad story with this stadium, we make peace with it today." After Bellingham's first half brace, scored 95 seconds apart, Julian Quinones rifled Mexico back into the contest. A red card for Jarell Quansah after a VAR review looked to have swung momentum Mexico's way. But Kane quickly restored England's two-goal lead from the spot before he was then punished for a Mexico penalty, converted by Raul Jimenez. "Referees are just not good enough. The fourth officials are just not good enough. That's the bottom line," raged Tuchel. "VAR overturns a clear and obvious error for the (Mexico) penalty. Was it a clear and obvious error? I think not." 

Jude Bellingham says every member of England's World Cup squad must feel "loved" as he admitted things were not right off the pitch at Euro 2024.Gareth Southgate's men reached the final of the tournament in Germany, where they were beaten by Spain, but were unconvincing during their run.Southgate's successor, Thomas Tuchel, has spoken of creating a "brotherhood" in the squad as he tries to win England's first World Cup since 1966.Real Madrid midfielder Bellingham told England's Lions' Den show that things were "a little bit wrong off the pitch" at the Euros two years ago."I don't feel like the group connected as well as it could have for a number of reasons," he said.Bellingham suggested heightened expectations were a factor after strong performances in previous tournaments."We were seen as one of the two or three teams that should win it," said the 22-year-old."We weren't playing particularly well, which doesn't help. So even when we were winning it felt like you don't get the feeling that we were as happy as we should be."Because there has to be that element of relentlessness and you want to win. But the nature of football and especially at this level is that wins go out the system very quickly and I think we should have held on to that moment a little bit more."And I think this time around having those experiences, knowing that for example the guy who scores the goal in the World Cup final isn't always the one that you'd bet your house on."So everyone's got to be ready, everyone's got to feel loved, everyone's got to feel like they're playing a huge part of the team."England launch their bid for World Cup glory against Croatia next Wednesday in Arlington, Texas.Aston Villa forward Morgan Rogers, who could be competing with Bellingham for the number 10 position, underlined the unity in the squad in the United States."We're really together, we're really aligned and it's just really easy and seamless just to fit in with anyone in the group from wherever you're from, wherever you play, ages, that doesn't matter with our group," said the 23-year-old."We sit on one big table and we can have one big debate and everyone can get involved. That's kind of how it is and it's a joy to be here." 

Jude Bellingham's goal helped Real Madrid beat Barcelona 2-1 to win a tense Clasico and move five points clear of their bitter rivals at the top of La Liga on Sunday.Champions Barcelona won all four times the teams were pitted against each other last season but in his first Clasico as Real Madrid coach, Xabi Alonso snapped that run.Kylian Mbappe, who later missed a penalty, fired Madrid in front and although Fermin Lopez levelled for the visitors at the Santiago Bernabeu, Bellingham netted a second for the hosts before half-time which proved decisive.Barca playmaker Pedri was sent off in the final stages for a second yellow card as tensions spilled over in the Spanish capital.Madrid's victory means they have won nine of their opening 10 league games and Alonso's side proved against Barca they can triumph on the big occasion, following their derby humbling by Atletico Madrid in September.Hansi Flick's team were led on the touchline by his assistant Marcus Sorg, as the German coach was suspended following a red card last weekend as they scraped a victory over relegation-battling Girona.Barcelona were without several regular starters, including Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski and Dani Olmo among others, while Lamine Yamal still does not appear fully fit after a groin injury but started.The teenager wound up Madrid fans in the week by claiming Los Blancos "steal" and "complain" and his name was greeted with a chorus of jeers when read out before kick-off.Barcelona had more of the ball in the first half but it was largely sterile possession and Madrid created the most dangerous opportunities.The hosts were awarded an early penalty when Yamal appeared to bring down Vinicius Junior. However it was cancelled after a VAR review as it was the Brazilian initiated the contact.Madrid fans' ire at the officials grew when Mbappe blasted home from outside the area but the goal was ruled out for a milimetric offside against the French superstar.Mbappe did not have long to wait before he could celebrate in earnest, after superb work by Bellingham sent him through on goal.The forward, the division's top goalscorer, netted his 11th league goal of the campaign with a lethal low finish past Wojciech Szczesny.The goalkeeper made a good save from Dean Huijsen while Bellingham and Fede Valverde went close as Madrid took control.Szczesny stopped efforts from Vinicius and Bellingham again, and it was against the run of play when Barcelona equalised.Arda Guler gave away possession in a dangerous area and Marcus Rashford, playing in his first Clasico, crossed for Lopez to blast the visitors level in the 38th minute.Bellingham struck Madrid's second five minutes later to give Los Blancos a deserved advantage at the interval.The England international, who scored his first goal at the Bernabeu since April in midweek against Juventus, gleefully tapped home after Eder Militao nodded Vinicius's cross back into his path.Mbappe penalty savedMadrid should have extended their lead at the start of the second half but Szczesny made a fine save to push out Mbappe's penalty, after Eric Garcia was penalised for handball.Yamal, frustrated and struggling to make an impact on the game, sent a long-range shot high over the bar as Madrid closed ranks and kept the Catalans at a safe distance from their goal.Madrid looked the more threatening in the final stages despite Barca needing to score, able to bring on Rodrygo Goes and Brahim Diaz, while Barca had little in the way of attacking reinforcements.Sorg sent defender Ronald Araujo up front during nine minutes of stoppage time after he netted the winner as a makeshift striker against Girona, but the centre-back could not trouble Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.Pedri was sent off in the final seconds for a second yellow card for a late foul on Aurelien Tchouameni, sparking a brief sideline shoving match, while players from both sides rowed after the final whistle.