Spence breaks down England's performance v. Norway
Djed Spence answers questions post match after England's 2-1 defeat of Norway in the 2026 World Cup semifinals, getting the winning goal in extra time to advance.
Video Transcript
Huge congratulations.
A World Cup semifinal.
What does that mean to you?
Yeah, it's a blessing.
I'm grateful, and yeah, it's a dream come true.
And in terms of You talked about the guts that the team showed in altitude and their backs to the wall with ten men against, against Mexico in Mexico City.
With all the injuries that were happening, with the heat out there, was that even more gutsy tonight do you think?
Yeah, it was a tough game in the heat.
But you know, the boys dug in, we dug in, and yeah, we got over the line.
Sven, hi.
Well, first congratulations.
And I also want to ask you, what do you feel like coming into a quarter-final is very, very hard to play and to a Norway that did a very good game against France.
I don't know if you can hear me.
Not really.
Sorry.
Sorry.
I was just Can you hear me now?
Yeah.
Sorry.
I was just saying first, congratulations.
And well, I was just asking you coming to one of the, like, most difficult games now being in the semifinal and what, what do you think about Norway as well?
They did a very great, game.
Yeah, they, did a good game.
They're a good team.
They defended well, and you know, we had to break them down, find the wall, but yeah, we done it and we're happy.
How are you?
How are you?
Manny Solons, 50 Hertz for the Spanish Sport Network.
What does it mean for England to have, Jude Bellingham at the best level that he's showing?
You know, he was with a yellow card precaution, that he could miss the next game, but he showed up, he took two goals and put, England to the next semifinals.
Yeah, he's a phenomenal player, a big player, and big players stand up for the big games, and that's what he done in the game.
So yeah, fantastic player.
Hello, Sven.
What did Thomas tell you before you go into the pitch?
It seems like both of you were a little bit mad.
I beg your pardon?
What did Thomas Tuchel tell you before you get into the pitch?
It seems like both of you are a little bit mad.
A little bit mad?
Mad.
No, I think it's just passion.
Just saying we have to go out on the pitch and, and cause trouble, and yeah, that's like, Jed, many controversies in this game.
What about the, the penalty?
Could you please, tell us how you experienced that situation?
Say that again, sorry.
The penalty situation.
How did you experience that?
What do you think about that, part of- What was my pose on it?
I mean, I was sore, so, yeah, I think everyone just had, to pull their performance out.
Hi, Sven.
Conrad Sontag with I wanted to ask you, how important is to have the fans?
I know that you've, trained in Florida, right, in Tampa.
You had some friendlies.
How did the weather, It seems like you guys got more rhythm, faster, stronger, and how did you guys have the result?
I think, game to game and as each one of them got stronger, the pace came on and made a difference, and we got stronger and stronger and then, when it came, we scored the goals.
Jed on here.
Could I ask you about the resilience that you guys have shown in Mexico City to come here today, the heat, all the rest of it?
I mean, what kind of position does that put you in for the rest of the tournament here and, just the character that you guys have right now is pretty incredible to be a part of, right?
Yeah, we've got great character, great team spirit, and that's what we've been building up, over the last couple of months.
And yeah, it's, it's a family and all together and, yeah, we want to have each other's backs.
Thank you.
Hi, Jed.
Huge congratulations.
Incredible to make it through to a World Cup semifinal.
I want to ask you a bit about your performance because when you came on, it felt like you really had the bit between your teeth.
You were so tenacious, really going for everything.
Can you talk me through a little bit about that mentality and what it meant?
You, you must have known the end goal, right?
Yeah, I just wanna Made the, the country proud, the nation proud, my team proud, the manager proud, and, yeah, when I said I, I give hundred percent, hundred ten percent for this country, and yeah, I'm just grateful to, to do my part.
Sven, this is the last question here.
Hi, Jed.
I just wanted to ask you about the Norway team one more time.
Early on you came off in the hundred and hundred, midway through extra time.
I wonder what your reaction was.
Obviously, you prepare for every Norwegian attacker, but were you surprised by that decision?
No, not really.
He was having an influence on him to be fair.
But yeah, tough game.
They won on penalties.
And, just because he was tired, I guess.
He, Okay.
We'll leave it there.
Thank you very much.
