​England advanced to the World Cup 2026 semi-finals after a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Norway in Miami. The Three Lions seized the initiative early at the sweltering Miami Stadium, but they found themselves trailing in the 36th minute when Andreas Schjelderup produced a half-cross, half-shot that cannoned in off the far post. England pressed in search of an equaliser before the break, and they finally delivered with a moment of brilliance when Jude Bellingham collected a pass on the edge of the box, evaded two defenders with a swift turn, and rifled home the equaliser.
Thomas Tuchel’s side might have been expected to push forward more aggressively after the restart, yet it was Norway who began the second period in the ascendancy, with Torbjørn Heggem having a goal disallowed after Erling Haaland fouled Elliot Anderson in the buildup. Both sides tiring as extra time loomed, England remained the more alert side early on, with Bellingham bundling in a rebound after Morgan Rogers’ effort to seal a place in the last four.
Here are the player ratings from the World Cup quarter-final. Jordan Pickford, 6: The England keeper avoided a critical error at the back early on and made the routine saves after that, but he could perhaps have done better for Norway’s opener. He remained solid for the remainder. Ezri Konsa, 6: Might have closed down the cross that led to the opener, but otherwise kept his winger quiet. He lacked attacking forays and faced tough tasks defensively but handled them well. John Stones, 7: It was always going to be a challenging day against his former teammate Haaland, yet he read the game effectively, intercepted early passes to Haaland, and anchored England as they weathered a Norweigian period of pressure. Marc Guehi, 7: He wrestled with Haaland for much of the contest, frequently finding himself in one-on-one duels. He won many challenges and produced a crucial block on Nusa’s effort in extra time, limiting Haaland to a single shot on target. Nico O’Reilly, 6: He found his footing against Sorloth early on and won several duels. A neat one-two with Gordon briefly threatened an opener, and his overall performance was solid amid a dangerous Norwegian attack. Elliot Anderson, 7: He offered reliable possession and linked well with multiple midfield partners. He registered key interceptions, repeatedly progressed the ball, and was central to England’s possession-dominant spells when they took control. Declan Rice, 6: A few wayward set-pieces in the first half, but he anchored the midfield with solid distribution and helped England retain control in phases. The half-time substitution on the part of Rice may have been precautionary rather than forced, hinting at fitness considerations. Jude Bellingham, 9: Once again the standout, delivering a decisive moment with his equaliser and leading by example with intelligent movement, energy, and finishing. He was instrumental in England’s late push and the extra-time period, driving the team forward and keeping Norway under pressure.