Jude Bellingham emerged as England's decisive player, netting a brace that propelled the team into the World Cup semi-finals following a hard-fought 2-1 extra-time win against Norway in Miami. The victory, secured under sweltering conditions at the Hard Rock Stadium, saw England overcome a deficit and a determined Norwegian side to advance to a semi-final clash in Atlanta.
Despite facing stifling humidity and a resilient Norwegian team, England found a way to win, a recurring theme throughout their tournament campaign. Bellingham proved instrumental, scoring in the first half to equalize and then again two minutes into the first period of extra time to secure the win. His performance has been a consistent highlight, with this brace bringing his World Cup goal tally to six, placing him among the tournament's top scorers.
Match Narrative
England began the match controlling possession and finding space on the flanks, with Noni Madueke and Anthony Gordon posing threats. However, Norway struck first in the 37th minute when Andreas Schjelderup's cross from the left crashed against the inside of the far post and found the net. England responded in first-half stoppage time, with Bellingham capitalizing on a loose ball to drill a low shot past the Norwegian goalkeeper, Orjan Nyland. This marked his fifth goal of the tournament at that point.
Early in the second half, Norway thought they had retaken the lead from a corner, but the goal was disallowed after VAR review. Later in the match, Norway came close to scoring again when a header struck the crossbar. Despite being outplayed for periods, England managed to force the game into extra time.
Extra Time Decider
Shortly after the start of extra time, Bellingham scored his second goal of the match. Morgan Rogers unleashed a shot from outside the area, which Nyland spilled, and Bellingham reacted quickest to tap the rebound into the net. England was later awarded a penalty, but the decision was overturned after a review.
The match saw tactical substitutions from England manager Thomas Tuchel, including the introduction of Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze at halftime. Despite the changes and moments of pressure from Norway, England ultimately held on for the victory. Bellingham was substituted near the end of the match, his contribution complete. The win sets up a semi-final fixture in Atlanta on Wednesday.