Jude Bellingham absolutely exploded for two goals against Norway, single-handedly knocking his former teammate Erling Haaland's squad out of the World Cup and sending England roaring into the semi-finals after a 2-1 victory. If you ever doubted the Real Madrid midfielder, or if you heard whispers about his scoring touch, Erling Haaland is here to tell you that you are listening to the wrong people. His words make it clear: Bellingham's clutch performance is just what Haaland expected from a player he calls one of the best on the planet.
The Dortmund Connection is Still Rock Solid
Let's talk about the bond between these two. Haaland and Bellingham weren't just passing acquaintances, no way. They spent two intense years tearing it up together at Borussia Dortmund, forging a connection that clearly runs deep. Haaland straight up calls Jude "a good friend" and says they "keep in touch and everything." You know that kind of camaraderie, right? The kind where you see your buddy crushing it and you are not surprised one bit. Haaland confirmed that vibe, saying, "I'm not surprised that he scores two goals today and performs the way he does." That's the ultimate vote of confidence from a guy who knows what top-tier performance looks like. He even called Bellingham "such a good guy" and talked about how much "fun together" they had back in Germany. That friendship clearly makes Haaland's defense of Bellingham even more powerful.Haaland Shuts Down Every Critic, Bellingham Style
Now for the real talk. Haaland didn't just praise his friend, he went to bat for him against the haters. He said, and I quote, "The only thing is that sometimes I think he gets a bit too much criticism because he doesn't score enough goals or whatever it is and I think he doesn't really deserve it." Think about that. Here's one of the best strikers in the world, defending a midfielder who just scored a brace in the World Cup, saying the criticism is unfounded. Haaland pointed out that Bellingham is still "one of the best in the world" and, crucially, "he's a midfielder, he still scores goals, he's still managed to dribble past every single player on the field." That's not just a defense; it's a mic drop from Haaland. He wrapped it up by saying, "It's just praise for Jude. He is unbelievable and England is lucky, Madrid is lucky, because everybody would want a Jude in the team." High praise, and Bellingham absolutely delivered on that belief when it mattered most. England is now looking ahead to a massive semi-final clash against Argentina. With Bellingham playing like this, and with Haaland's ringing endorsement backing him, you gotta feel good about their chances. Can Jude continue to silence the critics and lead England to the final? We'll be watching every kick.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.