England beat Norway 2-1 in extra time to book World Cup 2026 semi-final spot ::::: And when the heat is on, Bellingham delivers

England beat Norway 2-1 in extra time to book World Cup 2026 semi-final spot 

Jude Bellingham was the star . 

Jude 'shaped' this World Cup to his will. Great players do that. He is one of them.

Two more goals from this incredible young man, the second in extra-time, earned England a place in the semi-finals, eventually overcoming a Norway side that had threatened to overwhelm them in the searing Miami heat.

And when the heat is on, Bellingham delivers. It felt almost emotional that his second goal came after a 20-yard shot from his friend, his lifelong friend, Morgan Rogers was spilt. Bellingham pounced.  

England dominated the ball in the opening exchanges without carving out any clearcut chances and the hydration break came at a good time for Norway. There was a scare for Thomas Tuchel’s side on 33 minutes as John Stones’s error almost created a chance for Erling Haaland. 

England failed to heed that warning, however.  

There was time for Kane to have a goal ruled out for offside before the interval and 10 minutes after the break it was Norway’s turn to have a goal disallowed, with Torbjørn Heggem turning home from close range after a series of corners. A video assistant referee review found that Haaland had pushed Elliot Anderson to the ground just before the corner was taken.

Chances became increasingly scarce as time ticked away and the tension grew, with Norway coming closest to breaking the game open on 75 minutes, Kristoffer Ajer’s heading pinging off the bar after England had failed to clear another corner. Saka’s inswinging cross moments later bounced dangerously in the six-yard box but just evaded Anderson at the far post.

Goalkeeper Orjan Nyland is in tears after the final whistle following a brave effort that ended in heartbreaking fashion, with his extra-time error proving costly as England booked their place in the World Cup semi-finals.

Three minutes into extra time England had the lead for the first time. Morgan Rogers’s effort from 25 yards should have been dealt with comfortably by Nyland, but the Norway goalkeeper fumbled the shot and Bellingham pounced.

Six minutes later Spence tumbled under Oscar Bobb’s challenge in the area. Referee Clement Turpin pointed to the spot but then overturned his decision after a VAR review. England were denied the cushion but held on for another hard-fought victory.