Thomas Tuchel, the England coach, confirmed that he held a meeting with his players on Sunday evening to clear up any misunderstandings following statements made after the win over Norway in the quarterfinals, before facing Argentina in the World Cup semifinal, according to The Athletic.

The aftermath of England's 2-1 win in Miami saw widespread controversy, after Tuchel criticized his team's performance despite qualifying, before Jude Bellingham responded with statements that drew media attention.

With the Argentina match approaching, the German coach was keen to turn the page on the Norway game and focus the team's full attention on the upcoming challenge.

Tuchel stressed ahead of the semifinal that he sees no problem with Bellingham's comments, affirming that both their viewpoints stem from the same drive to succeed.

He said: 'I don't see any problem. I think we come from the same place. Our comments stem from the competitive spirit and the desire to give our best when the competition is fierce.'

Bellingham had indicated after the Norway match that his coach might not realize the difficulty players face playing against a strong team in hot and humid conditions, which prompted Tuchel to reiterate his positive message to the players and refocus them on the Argentina match.

The coach explained that his post-match criticism was not directed at the team's character or the players' commitment; rather, it was accompanied by clear praise for the mentality and effort they showed throughout the match.

He said: 'I spoke to the whole team and we had a match review session. I also spoke to them in the dressing room right after the match, and the message was the same.'

He added: 'We returned to Kansas City late Saturday evening, and after a recovery day on Sunday, I explained to the players again that we need to move past what happened and focus on the next stage. Since that meeting, all talk has been about the semifinal and facing Argentina.'

Tuchel believed that Bellingham's comments came amid the significant physical fatigue the player suffered after the match; noting that much of his own positive message was not conveyed to him during media interviews.

He said: 'Bellingham only faced the negative part of my comments, which included the criticism. But I also described him as a world-class player, and confirmed that he again provided decisive touches that decided the match, and I praised the mentality of this team, calling it exceptional. None of that was part of the questions he was asked, and I understand that.'

He added: 'What he faced was a question like: "What do you think about the coach describing your performance as chaotic?" It's natural for him to react that way after playing 120 minutes, scoring two goals, and giving his all on the field. I think that's a very natural reaction for a player with that competitive mentality.'

Tuchel also spoke about the Argentina national team, considering that his opponent draws much of its strength from its history, but at the same time stressed that England possesses the mental and physical qualities to face them.

He said: 'Argentina has that special competitive spirit, noticeable when they fall behind or when matches become complicated. They are a difficult team to beat.'

He added: 'This group is almost the same as the one that played four years ago, and you can see the harmony among them, as well as the sacrificial spirit the players have. They don't panic when they fall behind, and they fully believe in their style of play, which relies heavily on the emotional aspect, as it was in Qatar, and still is now.'

Tuchel concluded his remarks by saying: 'Certainly, Argentina's history gives them great motivation, but we also have the enthusiasm, toughness, and mentality needed to face this challenge. We are ready for that.'