Bellingham carries England past Norway into World Cup semifinals
Jude Bellingham scored both England goals in a 2-1 extra-time win over Norway in Miami, setting up a semifinal against Argentina or Switzerland.
By James Whitfield · Staff Writer
3 min read
Jude Bellingham scored twice as England beat Norway 2-1 after extra time in Miami to reach the World Cup semifinals, Al Jazeera and AFP reported. The result ended Norway’s first run to a quarterfinal and kept England within one match of its first World Cup final since 1966.
According to Al Jazeera and AFP, Andreas Schjelderup put Norway ahead in the first half on Saturday before Bellingham equalised shortly before the interval. Bellingham then scored the winner in extra time after Norway goalkeeper Orjan Nyland failed to hold a long-range shot from substitute Morgan Rogers.
England will play Argentina or Switzerland on Wednesday for a place in the final, Al Jazeera and AFP reported. Bellingham’s winner was his sixth goal of the tournament, following his two goals in England’s 3-2 last-16 victory over Mexico.
Norway had a second-half goal ruled out after a VAR check, according to Al Jazeera and AFP. Torbjorn Heggem turned the ball in at the back post, but officials penalised Erling Haaland for a push on Elliott Anderson before the corner was delivered.
Haaland, who was born in England, saw a scoring streak of 14 competitive matches for Norway end, Al Jazeera and AFP reported. Norway substituted him at half-time in extra time after the match was played in heavy heat and humidity.
Heat shapes the quarterfinal
Al Jazeera and AFP reported that the 5pm local kickoff meant temperatures stayed above 30 degrees Celsius, or 86 Fahrenheit, throughout the match. The conditions weighed on both teams as the game went beyond 90 minutes.
England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford saved a low effort from Martin Odegaard early on, according to Al Jazeera and AFP. Norway also wasted a major first-half opening when Alexander Sorloth chose to shoot rather than pass to Haaland.
Bellingham then changed the match, Al Jazeera and AFP reported. He received a pass from Anthony Gordon, drove into the area and finished with his left foot to bring England level before half-time.
England nearly went in front before the break when Bellingham created a chance for Harry Kane, according to Al Jazeera and AFP. Kane lifted the ball over Nyland, but the effort was ruled out for offside.
At half-time, England coach Thomas Tuchel brought on Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze for Noni Madueke and Declan Rice, Al Jazeera and AFP reported. Rice had been ill earlier in the week, while England struggled at times in midfield after the changes.
Norway came close again in the second half when Kristoffer Ajer hit the bar after England failed to clear another corner, according to Al Jazeera and AFP. England later received a penalty in extra time, but VAR overturned the decision after ruling that Djed Spence had initiated the contact.
Tuchel says England must improve
Tuchel told ITV that England had not played well despite reaching the semifinals. “We made life very, very difficult for ourselves today. The result is fantastic. We are in the last four. It’s amazing but not happy with the performance,” he said.
The England manager also told ITV: “The commitment is there but we made life difficult for ourselves in the way we played – sloppy, a lot of technical mistakes, not fast enough, not repetitive enough. We were lucky today.”
According to Al Jazeera and AFP, England had not won a World Cup knockout match after conceding first since the 1966 final before this tournament. It has now done so twice in three matches.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.