Bellingham double fires England past Norway into World Cup semis

Jude Bellingham's brace secured England's place in the World Cup semi-finals, as they edged out a resilient Norway side 2-1 in a tense quarter-final clash at Miami Stadium.

Norway took a surprising lead in the 36th minute through Andreas Schjelderup's spectacular strike. However, Bellingham responded just before halftime, leveling the score with a skillful individual effort. The decisive moment arrived three minutes into extra time when Bellingham pounced on a rebound from a long-range shot by Morgan Rogers, sealing England's victory and their fourth semi-final appearance in the last five major tournaments.

England's coach, Thomas Tuchel, acknowledged the fantastic result but was critical of his team's performance. "We made life very, very difficult for ourselves in the way we played. Sloppy, a lot of technical mistakes, not fast enough, not repetitive enough. We were lucky today," he stated.

“

The result is fantastic. We’re in the last four. It’s amazing, but I’m not happy with the performance. We made life very, very difficult for ourselves in the way we played. Sloppy, a lot of technical mistakes, not fast enough, not repetitive enough. ⁠We were lucky today.

Norway, despite exiting the tournament after their first World Cup in 28 years, expressed pride in their campaign. Skipper Martin Odegaard described it as an "adventure" and noted that "the whole world is talking about us."

The match saw a cagey first half, impacted by the heat, but Norway grew into the game, creating chances through Erling Haaland and Alexander Sorloth. England, though, managed to contain Haaland, preventing him from scoring for the first time in 16 international matches. Norway rued missed opportunities, particularly a chance where Sorloth opted not to pass to Haaland when they had a two-on-one situation.

Bellingham's equalizer was a moment of individual brilliance, showcasing his composure and finishing ability. The remainder of the first half saw England push for a lead, with Harry Kane having a goal disallowed for offside.

“

It is a bit bitter, but it has been an adventure. We must be proud. We are here for the first time in a long time, and we are making our mark. The whole world is talking about us.