England in the Semifinals for the First Time Since 2018

The World Cup quarter-finals delivered an absolute classic in Miami, showcasing a high-intensity battle of tactical endurance. England booked their place in the semifinals for the first time since 2018 after overcoming a resilient Norway side with a hard-fought 2-1 victory in extra time.

Norway broke the deadlock in the 36th minute when Andreas Schjelderup found the back of the net with a brilliant strike from a tight angle. However, England responded just before the interval; in the second minute of first-half stoppage time, Jude Bellingham met Anthony Gordon’s precise cross to restore parity. The second half was filled with drama as Torbjørn Heggem’s 56th-minute goal for Norway was disallowed following a VAR review, which spotted a foul by Erling Haaland on Elliot Anderson prior to the corner. Norway’s bad luck continued in the 76th minute when Kristoffer Ajer’s header from a corner rattled the crossbar.

Just three minutes into extra time, Morgan Rogers unleashed a powerful long-range effort that goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland failed to hold. Bellingham reacted quickest to slot home the rebound, scoring his second of the night and his 6th goal of the tournament. An exhausted Haaland was substituted after the first period of extra time, while Nyland made consecutive crucial saves against Djed Spence and Bukayo Saka to keep the score respectable. Meanwhile, Harry Kane earned his 120th international cap, drawing level with Wayne Rooney’s appearance record. While Norway's historic dream run came to an end, England advanced to face the winner of the Argentina-Switzerland match.

📊 Match Summary & Key Moments

• Score: Norway 1 - 2 England (AET)

• Goals: 36' Andreas Schjelderup (Norway) / 45+2', 93' Jude Bellingham (England)

• VAR Decision: 56' Torbjørn Heggem's goal disallowed due to Haaland's foul.

• Key Action: 76' Kristoffer Ajer hit the crossbar.

• Milestone: Harry Kane tied Wayne Rooney with his 120th cap for England.

Image: The Athletic