​Jude Bellingham was England’s hero once again, scoring twice as the Three Lions came from behind to end Norway’s historic run and reach the World Cup semi-finals with a 2-1 victory after extra time on Saturday. Norway had taken a shock lead in the sweltering Miami heat when Andreas Schjelderup struck early in their first-ever quarter-final. Yet Bellingham, who had already struck twice in the last-16 win over Mexico, produced a moment of magic to level just before the break. A second Norway goal was controversially ruled out after a VAR review in the second half for a foul by Erling Haaland, as both teams battled relentlessly into extra time. In the extra period, Bellingham seized on an error by Orjan Nyland to sweep in his sixth goal of the tournament, delivering England the initiative they needed.
England will now face either Argentina or Switzerland on Wednesday for a chance to reach their first World Cup final in 60 years. Haaland’s prolific run—14 straight competitive goals for Norway—came to an end against the country of his birth, with Norway’s tired talisman replaced at half-time of extra time. Before this tournament, England had not won a World Cup knockout tie after conceding the opening goal since the 1966 final; now they’ve achieved that twice in three matches.
The brutal Florida heat, under a 5:00 pm local time kickoff and humidity above 30 degrees, added another layer of fatigue for players and staff alike. Yet it was Bellingham who continued to lift England’s performance in the last two matches, keeping their pursuit of major tournament glory alive despite some uneven moments in their play.
The first half began with a scare for England. Martin Odegaard forced a low save from Jordan Pickford, and Alexander Sorloth then squandered a golden opportunity by opting to shoot himself instead of feeding Haaland. Shortly after, Bellingham answered the early pressure in emphatic fashion. He seized on Anthony Gordon’s pass, sped into the box, and finished with his less-favored left foot, restoring parity and shifting the momentum in England’s favor.
Moments before the break, Bellingham created another chance for Harry Kane, who coolly dinked Nyland, only to be flagged offside as the whistle approached. The half-time changes from England—Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze replacing Noni Madueke and Declan Rice, who had been battling illness—lacked the same balance in midfield as the first period, allowing Norway to press more effectively at times in the second half.
As the game wore on, Norway traded on dangerous set pieces and counterattacks, and England found themselves under pressure at various stages. A pivotal moment came when Haaland appeared to notch a second goal for Norway, only for it to be ruled out after consultation with VAR for a foul in the build-up. The decision preserved England’s hopes and set the stage for extra time.
In the added period, Bellingham again demonstrated his influence. He pounced on a miscue from Nyland, converting with composure to claim his sixth goal of the tournament and place England in the driving seat. Norway pressed in the closing stages, but England’s defense held firm to seal the win.
Looking ahead, England’s path to a first World Cup final since 1966 remains challenging but tangible. They will meet either Argentina or Switzerland in the semi-final, aiming to extend their record of knockout-stage resilience and claim a place in the final on the world stage.