Bellingham’s extra-time winner sends England into World Cup semi-finals
England have advanced to the World Cup semi-finals following a 2-1 extra-time victory over Norway, with Jude Bellingham scoring both goals. The match, played in challenging conditions with temperatures reaching 33C at kick-off, saw England overcome an early deficit and a resilient Norway side.
Norway took the lead in the first half through Andreas Schjelderup, whose cross-shot found the net. This came after a period where England struggled to find their rhythm, with a loose back-pass from John Stones nearly creating an opportunity for Erling Haaland. Jordan Pickford made a save from a Haaland header before Schjelderup’s goal.
Bellingham responded with an equaliser just before half-time, capitalising on a pass from Anthony Gordon. His finish across goal was too powerful for Norway goalkeeper Ørjan Håskjold Nyland. The goal brought England level after a period where Norway had been on the front foot, with Alexander Sørloth and Martin Ødegaard also testing Pickford.
Second-half struggles and extra-time heroics
The second half saw England make tactical changes, with Bukayo Saka replacing Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze coming on for Declan Rice, who had been battling illness. Despite these adjustments, Norway continued to pose a threat, with Pickford making several saves and Kristoffer Ajer hitting the crossbar in the 76th minute.
Norway had a goal disallowed after a video assistant review, following a push by Haaland on Elliot Anderson. The match remained tense, with both teams pushing for a winner in regulation time. Nyland nearly made an error in stoppage time, but Djed Spence’s charge-down went wide.
As the game entered extra time, England started strongly. Bellingham secured his second goal and the winning strike after Nyland spilled a shot from substitute Morgan Rogers. This poacher’s finish put Bellingham in contention for the Golden Boot with six goals and further solidified his claim for player of the tournament.
Norway, playing in their first World Cup quarter-final, continued to fight, with substitutes Antonio Nusa and Oscar Bobb having chances. Marc Guéhi blocked a shot from Nusa, and Bobb lifted his effort high when well-placed. England managed to nullify the threat of Haaland, who was withdrawn after the first period of extra time.
Player performances and tactical shifts
Several England players had varied performances. Harry Kane had a quiet outing, with no shots in 90 minutes, while Anthony Gordon was noted as England’s best attacker alongside Bellingham, providing the assist for the first goal. Elliot Anderson made nine ball recoveries, more than any other England player, despite being overrun at times in the second half.
Thomas Tuchel’s tactical decisions were evident throughout the match, with changes made to address midfield balance and counter Norway’s control. Reece James was introduced into midfield before moving to right-back, and Gordon was substituted, impacting England’s pace. Bukayo Saka, coming on as a substitute, showed promise and was unlucky not to score later in the game.
The match was a significant test of endurance for England, marking their first game in the tournament under such hot and humid conditions, contrasting with previous matches played in air-cooled domes or milder weather. England will now face either Argentina or Switzerland in the semi-finals.
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Source: theguardian.com
Reuben Castle is the Sports News Writer at News GB, covering rugby union, golf and boxing with six years of reporting experience. He moved from print into digital sport news. He holds a degree in Journalism from Coventry University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Based in Coventry, he follows the Open Championship and amateur boxing. “Accuracy first; the analysis can follow.”
