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Jude Bellingham drew inspiration from the spirit of Ted Lasso after guiding England into the semi-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Real Madrid midfielder once again proved decisive, scoring twice to seal a hard-fought 2-1 quarter-final win over Norway, setting up a thrilling semi-final encounter with Argentina and Lionel Messi.

Following the match, Bellingham took to social media to share a message that many fans interpreted as a nod to the famous Ted Lasso “Believe” motto from the hit TV series. While it remains uncertain whether the reference was intentional, the sentiment perfectly captured England’s fighting spirit in the tournament.

He posted: “Live to fight another day.🦁 Semi’s next. Believe!”

Meanwhile, England manager Thomas Tuchel urged his players to raise their technical game despite the victory. The German tactician praised his team’s resilience but insisted there is still room for improvement.

“Absolutely, no one disputes that,” Tuchel said when asked about the physical effort his players put in. “I’m impressed with the shift that they made, the effort, team spirit, the belief, and to overcome adversity and dig in to find ways to win is at the absolute highest level. They cannot get enough credit for that. But I’m also a football coach, and I think we can play better.”

Responding to questions about his manager’s comments, Bellingham remained composed, saying, “Oh well, whatever… It’s difficult out there. It’s a tough shift. All the players put in a very tough shift. So my thoughts and appreciation go to the players who were out there who put in a great shift yet again.”

England’s attacking output has largely depended on Bellingham and captain Harry Kane, who together have scored 12 of England’s 13 goals in the 2026 tournament. Tuchel acknowledged the team’s reliance on the duo but highlighted their quality and leadership.

“We need to get better in attack to also bring other players into position,” Tuchel admitted. “But, of course, they are decisive players. They love the responsibility. They have the quality. They show up in decisive moments, so there’s nothing wrong with it. We don’t need to apologise that these two guys play for us and decide matches for us. It’s impressive. They’re both top players who have found a way to play so efficiently with each other.”

England will now travel to Atlanta for an eagerly anticipated semi-final clash with Argentina on Wednesday. The Three Lions have demonstrated remarkable tenacity throughout the tournament—something Tuchel believes has strengthened the unity within the squad despite his tactical concerns.

“No, not at all with the result and not with the team,” Tuchel clarified when asked if he was dissatisfied. “Maybe I need to be more specific. There’s no doubt I’m proud and I’m happy. I feel so connected to this team because they just do whatever it takes to take the next step.”