England has reached the World Cup semifinals after defeating Norway 2-1 in extra time. Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham was the hero for England, scoring both goals in the victory.
Norway took a surprise lead in the first half through Andreas Schjelderup, but Bellingham equalized shortly before halftime. The match remained tied until the third minute of extra time when Bellingham netted the decisive goal. England's defense, anchored by Dan Burn, played a crucial role in holding off Norway's attack, which featured Erling Haaland and Martin Ødegaard.
A point of contention following the match was whether the ball struck a SPIDERCAM wire before Bellingham's opening goal. Norway's opponents suggested the goal should not have stood if the ball touched the cable, but FIFA has denied this occurred. Former Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel commented that the England team was "lucky" and "made life difficult" for themselves, a statement Bellingham countered by referencing the quality of Norway's players.
England's next opponent in the semifinals will be Argentina, who also needed extra time to secure their place in the final four. Argentina defeated a resilient 10-man Switzerland 3-1.
Argentina took an early lead through Alexis Mac Allister, but Switzerland's Dan Ndoye equalized in the second half. Switzerland's challenge was compounded when striker Breel Donald Embolo received a second yellow card for simulation. With the game heading towards penalties, Julian Alvarez scored a stunning goal from outside the box in the 112th minute, and Lautaro Martinez added a fourth goal on a counter-attack in the 121st minute to seal the victory.
This marks Argentina's third consecutive knockout game that has gone to extra time, raising questions about their endurance for the remainder of the tournament.
Notable Attendees and Moments
The quarterfinal matches drew a crowd of notable figures. In Miami for England's win were former England stars David Beckham, John Terry, and Ashley Cole, alongside World Cup winners Cafu, Kaka, and Alessandro Del Piero. Music icon Mick Jagger and TV presenter Maya Jama were also present. In Kansas City, NFL quarterback Patrick Mahomes was seen supporting Argentina.
In a display of camaraderie, Jude Bellingham and Erling Haaland, former Borussia Dortmund teammates, shared a lighthearted moment on the pitch before a Norway free-kick, with Bellingham playfully tickling Haaland. After the match, the England squad and fans celebrated their victory by singing Oasis' "Wonderwall."
Statistical Milestones
Jude Bellingham's performance has placed him in elite company statistically. At 23 years and 12 days old, he is the second-youngest player to score two or more goals in successive World Cup knockout stage games, surpassed only by Pelé in 1958. Bellingham has now scored seven World Cup goals, matching Pelé's tally at the same age. Only Kylian Mbappé, with 12 goals, has scored more World Cup goals before the age of 23.
The World Cup now enters a two-day break before the semifinals begin. France will play Spain on Tuesday, followed by England's match against Argentina on Wednesday.