​Harry Kane, captain of Bayern Munich, led England to a second World Cup semifinal in three tournaments, but the path was anything but smooth. Norway grabbed the initiative in the opening period, and it looked as though they might carry that early edge into halftime until Jude Bellingham struck his first goal of the match, shifting the momentum at a critical moment. In the second half, Norway again appeared ready to take the lead, but a VAR review spotted a foul before the corner kick could be taken, preventing their attempt from materializing. Bellingham then struck again early in extra time, and England managed to cling on for the final 30 minutes to secure their spot in the semifinals.
Here are our match awards. Martin Ødegaard stood out as Norway’s captain, driving his team’s tempo with clever dribbles around and into the England box as he sought to break through a resolute defense. He assisted the opening goal and created another shooting opportunity for a teammate, all while pulling the strings throughout the full 120 minutes. Even though his side did not win, Ødegaard’s tireless performance reflected his commitment to his country.
On the England side, John Stones delivered a standout defensive performance. With the support of his comrades, he largely neutralized Erling Haaland, keeping him largely off the scoresheet. Stones logged nearly 100 touches, completing all but three of his passes across the full match and registering eight clearances—six with his head—matching one of the highest defensive tallies of the game. His resilience and organization at the back were crucial to England’s ability to withstand sustained pressure.
The midfield partnership of Declan Rice and Kalvin Phillips was particularly impressive in the first half, though Rice was substituted at halftime. Despite Rice’s strong contributions, Eberechi Eze and Bukayo Saka pushed England forward, but it was Jordan Anderson who earned the nod overall for his influence across the complete 120 minutes. Anderson completed 94 percent of his passes and recovered the ball nine times, with a heat map that showed his involvement across the entire field as he tracked, pressed, and distributed with energy and precision.
And then there was Callum Gordon’s significance in the buildup. He injected pace and drive into England’s forward play over his 70 minutes, delivering an assist on Bellingham’s first goal after a superb run to the edge of the box. A back-pass precision pass found Bellingham in a dangerous position, showcasing Gordon’s accurate outlet and willingness to take on defenders. He also contributed four successful dribbles, the most of any player on the field, underscoring his direct approach and willingness to take initiative.
Bellingham’s two-goal performance continued the trend from the previous knockout rounds: he became the youngest England player to score twice in consecutive World Cup knockout matches. His first goal, just before halftime, turned the tide after Gordon’s assist, as he danced around a defender and fired home through a narrow gap past the goalkeeper and defenders. His instinct and timing allowed him to pounce on a loose ball in the box after a longer-range shot rebounded off the chest of Norway’s keeper, delivering the decisive second goal. With his brace, Bellingham’s tally rises to six goals, placing him in the Golden Boot conversation alongside Kane.
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