England advance to World Cup semi-finals
England secured a 2-1 victory over Norway in their World Cup 2026 quarter-final match, with Jude Bellingham scoring both goals in extra time. The win means England will progress to the semi-finals of the tournament. The match saw a determined effort from England, who had to overcome a challenging performance from Norway.
The game was marked by moments of intense play and tactical shifts. Norway‘s goalkeeper, Ørjan Nyland, was involved in a crucial moment when he failed to hold onto a shot from Morgan Rogers, allowing Bellingham to score. Despite the disappointment for Norway, there was a display of sportsmanship as Erling Haaland embraced Harry Kane after the final whistle.
Key moments and player performances
The first half saw England captain Harry Kane have a goal disallowed for offside. Norway‘s defence was noted for its effectiveness in limiting Kane‘s space. England‘s manager, Thomas Tuchel, made changes at half-time, bringing on Eberechi Eze and Bukayo Saka to try and gain control of the game. Saka delivered dangerous crosses and made defensive tackles, while Eze was later moved to the left wing.
Jordan Pickford, who became the most-capped player for England in World Cups, had an uncertain performance, being caught out by Andreas Schjelderup‘s cross that led to Norway‘s opening goal. Ezri Konsa was described as dependable at right-back, while Marc Guehi effectively managed Erling Haaland despite nursing a hamstring issue. John Stones made a crucial interception but also found himself in a difficult situation with the ball.
Nico O’Reilly, the Manchester City player, was tasked with a complex role as left-back and an attacking option. Elliot Anderson‘s driving run initiated the move for England‘s equaliser, and he later shifted to a deeper midfield role. Declan Rice, who had been ill during the week, was substituted at half-time, not appearing to be at his best.
Jude Bellingham was central to England‘s success, scoring both goals and demonstrating strong mentality. His performance was described as world-class, and he has been instrumental for England throughout the tournament. Anthony Gordon provided energy and assisted Bellingham‘s equaliser. Substitutes like Djed Spence, who won a penalty that was later overturned by VAR, and Morgan Rogers, whose shot led to Bellingham‘s goal, also contributed.
Post-match reactions
Following the match, Jude Bellingham spoke about the team’s character and perseverance, highlighting their ability to find a way to win even when things were not going smoothly. He expressed pride in the team’s effort, stating it was a victory for everyone and that the whole country wins. He also praised the impact of players like Morgan Rogers and the overall top-level performance of the squad.
Thomas Tuchel, however, expressed frustration with the team’s performance despite the victory. He stated that while the result was fantastic and secured a spot in the last four, he was not happy with the overall play. Tuchel pointed to sloppiness, technical mistakes, and a lack of pace and repetition, suggesting that England was fortunate to win and needs to improve. He described Bellingham as world-class and consistent in every match.
The match also featured some contentious moments, including a penalty awarded to England after Djed Spence was fouled by Oscar Bobb, which was subsequently overturned by VAR. There were also discussions around a camera-cable incident, with initial reports suggesting the ball hit a wire, though later reports from Fifa indicated this did not occur. England will now prepare to face either Argentina or Switzerland in their upcoming semi-final match.
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Source: theguardian.com
