England 2-1 Norway (AET): Jude Bellingham double seals semi-final spot
Jude Bellingham strikes twice as Thomas Tuchel’s England overcome Norway in an extra-time thriller in Miami to reach the World Cup semi-finals.
Jude Bellingham was England’s saviour once again as his extra-time winner overcame Norway in a punishing, sweat-soaked Miami quarter-final to propel the Three Lions into the World Cup semi-finals.
Five days after his crucial brace against Mexico, the 23-year-old midfielder dragged Thomas Tuchel’s side from the brink of exit in conditions that tested human endurance to its limits, with South Florida temperatures hitting a stifling 33°C at kickoff.
Norway took a shock first-half lead when Andreas Schjelderup’s looping cross-shot completely deceived Jordan Pickford—making his record-breaking 18th World Cup appearance—to clip in off the far post.
England were rattled and fortunate not to trail further, but Bellingham equalised in first-half stoppage time, driving purposefully into the box before smashing a clinical finish past Ørjan Nyland.
Norway thought they had restored their lead after the break through Torbjørn Heggem, but VAR intervened to disallow the goal for an Erling Haaland foul on Elliot Anderson in the buildup.
With both sets of players visually exhausted in the brutal humidity, the match crept into extra time. Just three minutes into the restart, Bellingham reacted quickest to slot home after Nyland spilled a fierce, long-range drive from substitute Morgan Rogers.
It was enough to seal a famous comeback, keeping the dream alive and setting up a mouthwatering semi-final clash against either Argentina or Switzerland in Atlanta
