Gary Neville has supported Jude Bellingham after the England hero clapped back at Thomas Tuchel’s perfectionist interview following Saturday’s spirited comeback against Norway.
The Three Lions reached the semi-finals of the World Cup, beating Norway 2-1 in extra-time after Bellingham struck twice to cancel out Andreas Schjelderup’s first half cross-cum-shot.
However, England boss Tuchel was unimpressed with the resolute performance in the sweltering Miami heat, labelling it ‘sloppy, lucky’ and not good enough in ‘every sense’.
Bellingham was a dissenting voice, though. The Real Madrid attacker, who has scored six goals in six World Cup games, was jaded by Tuchel’s comments after England had scrapped for 120 minutes in 40°C-plus heat to set up a mouth-watering tie against Argentina.
Responding to Tuchel on ITV, Bellingham said: ‘Yeah, well. Whatever, whatever. It’s difficult out there. It’s a tough shift. All the players are putting in a very tough shift. My thoughts and appreciation goes to the players who were out there and put in a great shift yet again.’
The 23-year-old doubled down when speaking to the written press, adding: ‘Maybe he doesn’t know what it is like to play in those kind of conditions against Erling Haaland, Martin Odegaard, Antonio Nusa and Alexander Sorloth. That’s not an easy team to play against.
‘We have 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 a thousand passes. Sometimes you have to win dirty and we’ve done that again.’
Jude Bellingham was a dissenting voice after Thomas Tuchel’s punchy post-Norway interview
Jude Bellingham scored twice against Norway to single-handedly fire England into the semi-finals of the World Cup
Jude Bellingham has scored six goals at the tournament, level with Harry Kane and only two behind Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi – who lead the way for the Golden Boot
When pressed on Tuchel’s ‘lucky’ comment, Bellingham simply replied: ‘No comment’.
The relationship between Bellingham and Tuchel has been volatile over the past year with the German labelling his superstar attacker ‘a bit repulsive’ in an outlandish interview with talkSPORT in June 2025. Tuchel did later apologise for the comment.
But former England right-back and assistant manager under Roy Hodgson, Gary Neville, has backed Bellingham for standing by the team after Tuchel’s scathing assessment.
‘I really liked it,’ Neville told Sky Sports. ‘I’m not a great believer in players not doing interviews, particularly when you’re the best players in the team. If you’re the star player, the guy that is going to win us games, I think you’re the guy who has to go and speak.
‘Jude Bellingham in every single game at this tournament has spoken – even after the Ghana draw when it wasn’t a great performance and there was a bit of criticism flying around.
‘There are only a number of players that can make interviews like that, with a bit of punch back at their manager and he is one of them. Being a superstar isn’t just about delivering on the pitch. I think that interview is someone completely and utterly comfortable, confident, safe in his own personality and character.
Gary Neville has supported Jude Bellingham’s decision to challenge Thomas Tuchel’s post match interview
Gary Neville also admitted he had no problem with Thomas Tuchel’s comments – even if they dominate the discourse before Argentina
‘What I liked wasn’t just the words that came out of his mouth, but it was the look in his eyes. You see the look of someone who is fierce and determined to succeed.
‘He’s 23 years of age, it’s absolutely monumental what that lad is doing. The impact that he is having on young people in our country and around the world is magnificent. I think there may be a little bit made of the Tuchel/Bellingham stuff – that’s obviously something that has been going on for 12 months. But Tuchel ain’t dropping him.
‘Bellingham probably respects his manager for having the guts to say it after the game. He may not think it now, but in 10/15 years when he thinks about excellence and elite performance, he will recognise Thomas Tuchel was only striving for more out of the team because he believes they can deliver more.
‘What you have sometimes – not just in football but in life – is people not willing to have difficult conversations with each other. Thomas Tuchel comes out, he’s given an interview, he’s not happy with the performance because he knows that team can do better and he knows they have to do better against Argentina.
‘He’s got a player who wants a bit of respect for getting to a World Cup semi-final, for the achievement, effort and commitment that the players have put in. I have no problem with this kind of stuff. Sometimes it comes to a head, but it’s not a problem. Sometimes it’s better to be like that than have it the other way.’
Gary Neville hailed ‘monumental’ Jude Bellingham for inspiring the next generation
Neville continued to extol Bellingham’s indispensable performances at the World Cup, declaring the 50-capped midfielder has validated his standing among football’s elite.
‘The doubts before the tournament – which, to be fair, the few of us working on ITV never had – we never thought it was a question of Rogers or Bellingham. We thought Bellingham was a superstar, but he had to prove it on the biggest stage.
‘My daughters love football – they’re 16 and 17 – they absolutely adore him, he is a hero. Every kid in England is watching this World Cup thinking they’re Jude Bellingham.
‘He has been absolutely sensational. Honestly it gives me goosebumps to watch a performance like that. I don’t think I’ve ever seen an England player have an influence in a tournament like this. I was with Gazza in ‘96, Rooney in 2004 and Michael Owen in ‘98. I watched those things live and I’ve never seen anything like this. This is absolutely exceptional, it’s of the highest level.
Gary Neville reckons Jude Bellingham is having a greater influence at this tournament than England greats Paul Gascoigne, Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen did at tournaments he played at
‘It comes to a point in your career where you’ve got to deliver on the highest stage or you don’t and your legacy will be defined by that. That’s why the great players are the great players.
‘Jude has thought that this is his moment. Everyone looking at him, questioning whether he’s world class. I thought Harry Kane was our only true world class player, with Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice sat a bit below where there was a bit more for them to do. Jude’s just gone and done it.
‘He’s climbed that extra, massive step onto world class mountain. Right now, you’re seeing the best midfield player in the world. That’s not because he’s scoring goals by the way but it’s the other bits around it that makes him the complete player and gives him the edge.
‘He’s England’s superstar. You’ve got to recognise this is game changing. He’s performing in a World Cup, scored six goals and been unbelievable in attack and defence. He’s almost single-handedly got the team through – with the support of Harry Kane, who I don’t want to take for granted.
‘We’ve got a game on Wednesday against Argentina, it’s knockout football, things can go wrong – but we’ve got to enjoy him and we’ve got to enjoy where we are while it’s happening.’
