England national team captain Harry Kane defended his teammate Jude Bellingham after the statements he made following the Norway match.
Harry Kane
Club: Bayern Munich
The England national team achieved a 1-1 victory against Norway in the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup.
The England national team will face Argentina on Wednesday evening, in the semi-finals of the World Cup.
Kane said in statements via ITV channel: "When you play a match, especially against a team like Norway, and a question is asked of you two minutes after the final whistle when you haven't even known what the coach said, what do you want Jude to say?"
England striker continued, "We fought a battle, the match was very difficult."
England national team player Jude Bellingham responded to criticisms from his coach Thomas Tuchel regarding the players' performance: "Maybe he - Tuchel - doesn't know what it takes to play in these conditions against a team that includes players like Haaland and Odegaard, it's not easy".
Harry Kane continued, "I think it's easy to try to create division, but the matter is completely the opposite, this group has reached what it is thanks to our solidarity, not only the players, but the coach and the staff and everyone who participated in the matter."
He explained, "Things are being exaggerated more than they really are."
The England national team has returned to the semi-finals of the World Cup for the first time in 8 years, specifically in the 2018 edition held in Russia.
Bellingham was asked after the match about his comment on the statements of England coach Thomas Tuchel, after his satisfaction with the team's performance.
Harry Kane explained his coach's statements: "When he sees us training and sees how close we are and what we can do, and the way we attack, and our individual confrontations and skills, he just wants to see this side in the match".
He concluded, "He knows more than anyone else that the matter is not that simple, we are playing against good opponents and teams, he is trying to get the best out of us, and we know that we have another level we can reach."
