​Jude Bellingham struck twice as England clawed their way back from behind to defeat Norway 2-1 after extra time, earning a place in the World Cup semi-finals on Saturday. Norway had taken the lead through Andreas Schjelderup in the 36th minute, but Bellingham equalized just before halftime. Harry Kane had a goal ruled out shortly before the break, and Torbjørn Heggem’s effort for Norway in the 55th minute was also disallowed, steering the game into extra time. Just three minutes into stoppage, Bellingham once again found the net to secure the winner.
“It’s difficult out there, it’s a tough shift. All the players have put in a hard shift. My thoughts and appreciation go to the players out there who put in a great shift,” Bellingham said. In the semi-finals, England will meet the winner of the Argentina-Switzerland clash. The other semi-final pits France against Spain.
England manager Thomas Tuchel admitted, “We made life very, very difficult for ourselves today. The result is fantastic. We are in the last four. It’s amazing but not happy with the performance—in every sense. We were lucky today. We will get better. We need to. Now it’s celebration. Now it’s taking it all in. We have three days. We need everything.”
Norway, meanwhile, can hold their heads high after delivering their best-ever World Cup showing in their first appearance since 1998.
The match began with England pressing through Kane in the 29th minute, as he unleashed a fierce shot that sailed over the bar. Norway responded decisively, taking the lead when Schjelderup attempted a cross for Erling Haaland but ended up beating his own goalkeeper with a deflected effort that hit the post and crossed the line in the 36th minute. Four minutes later, Martin Ødegaard came close with a weak but dangerous attempt that Jordan Pickford managed to save. Alexander Sørloth then slalomed past a defender and fired, but Pickford was equal to it.
England drew level seconds before the break when Bellingham converted a low cross from Anthony Gordon, shading the ball into the net amid pressure from a defender. Kane had a shot saved by Ørjan Nyland before the break and had a goal ruled out for offside, denying England a lead.
Heggem thought he had put Norway ahead again in the 55th minute, but the goal was chalked off due to Haaland’s shove on Elliot Anderson during the buildup. The game remained tied as David Møller Wolfe hit the woodwork in the 76th minute, forcing extra time.
The decisive moment came early in extra time when Morgan Rogers fired a powerful long-range effort, Nyland parried, but Bellingham was quickest to react and tucked away the rebound from close range in the 93rd minute to seal the victory for England.
With the win, England advance to the last four, where they will face either Argentina or Switzerland, while the other semi-final sees France take on Spain. Norway’s campaign ends on a high note, celebrating their best World Cup performance since rejoining the tournament.