Bellingham’s Brace Fires England Past Norway into 2026 FIFA World Cup Semi-Finals

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Jude Bellingham’s brace saw England beat Norway 2-1 after extra time to advance to the 2026 FIFA World Cup Semi-Finals. 

Bellingham netted a 93rd-minute rebound winner after Orjan Nyland spilled his save of Morgan Rogers’ long-range strike to his feet.

Andreas Schjelderup’s 36th-minute curler initially put Norway in front before Bellingham equalised with a clinical strike from Anthony Gordon’s pass.

Post-match, Bellingham told UK broadcaster – ITV that the team had worked hard for the win in tough humid conditions.

“It’s difficult out there, it’s a tough shift. All the players have put in a tough shift. My thoughts and appreciation goes to the players our there who put in a great shift.”

England will meet Argentina at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, USA, on Wednesday 15 July at 3pm EDT (8pm BST), after the reigning champions needed extra time to beat ten-men Switzerland 3-1 in Kanas City.

With a semi-final spot on the line, both teams unsurprisingly began this contest in a cagey manner such was the 34-degree heat in Miami.

England soon got on top of their Norwegian opposition but struggled to carve out many notable opportunities as Bellingham flicked Elliot Anderson’s 19th-minute cross wide through Noni Madueke’s legs.

Norway eventually tested England’s resolve as Haaland forced a save from Jordan Pickford just past the half-hour mark, before he saw a 35th-minute header saved by Pickford.

Pickford however was beaten a minute later after Harry Kane was dispossessed and the ball fed out to the left, where Schjelderup picked up Martin Odegaard’s pass and bent a cross unintentionally into the far-right corner to put Norway into a shock lead.

Alexander Sorloth and Odegaard then saw shots saved by Pickford as Norway attempted to put the semi-final spot within their grasp by half time.

England however denied the Norwegians that opportunity to spend the break dreaming of a maiden semi-final appearance, as Gordon in the second minute of injury time teed up Bellingham to burst into the box with an equalising strike into the far-bottom right corner.

Kane almost turned the tie around for England in the final minute of four additional minutes as he flicked in Bellingham’s cross, only to had been adjudged offside as he met the delivery.

Norway however restored their lead after Torbjorn Heggem smashed Pickford’s 55th-minute flapped deflection of a corner into the net on the rebound, although the goal was disallowed by VAR after Haaland shoved Anderson in the build-up of the delivery into the box.

England continued to ride their luck as a 76th-minute corner was headed onto the crossbar by Kristoffer Ajer, before Haaland on the follow-up fired his shot into the side-netting after he intercepted a scruffy clearance.

Norway substitute, Antonio Nusa almost secured a shock victory with a low 85th-minute shot but Pickford crucially saved his curled attempt.

England proceeded to almost settle the tie in the first minute of additional time after Djed Spence intercepted Nyland’s goal-kick from a backpass, yet the full-back could only deflect the kick wide of the empty net.

Bellingham then nodded Stones’ cross wide of the left corner in the fifth additional minute of second-half injury time, as the contest eventually went to extra time.

Bellingham’s perseverance however paid off in the 93rd minute as a corner was played around the box until Morgan Rogers unleashed a powerful shot on goal, yet Nyland spilled his save as Bellingham swept in with a right-footed rebound finish to put England ahead.

England subsequently almost extended their lead after Spence was fouled in the 99th minute by Oscar Bobb following a dazzling wriggle into the box, yet VAR overturned the penalty due to Spence’s leg having been in front of Bobb’s at time of contact.

Nyland then blocked shots from Spence and Saka in quick succession in the 110th minute but the Three Lions clung on to book their spot in the semi-finals.

 

Teams

Norway: Orjan Nyland, Julian Ryerson (Aursnes 60′), Kristoffer Ajer, Torbjorn Heggem (Ostigard 90′), David Moller Wolfe (Pedersen 90′), Martin Odegaard, Sander Berge, Patrick Berg, Alexander Sorloth (Bobb 68′), Erling Haaland (Strand Larsen 105′), Andreas Schjelderup (Nusa 68′)

Substitutes: Thelo Aasgaard, Fredrik Aursnes, Fredrik Andre Bjorkan, Oscar Bobb, Antonio Nusa, Jens Petter Hauge, Marcus Holmgren Pedersen, Sondre Langas, Egil Selvik, Leo Ostigard, Jorgen Strand Larsen, Henrik Falchener, Sander Tangvik, Morten Thorsby, Kristian Thorstvedt

England: Jordan Pickford, Ezri Konsa (Rogers 89′), John Stones, Marc Guehi, Nico O’Reilly (Spence 86′), Elliot Anderson, Declan Rice (Eze 46′), Noni Madueke (Saka 46′), Jude Bellingham (Burn 111′), Anthony Gordon (James 71′), Harry Kane

Substitutes: Dan Burn, Trevoh Chalobah, Eberechi Eze, Jordan Henderson, Dean Henderson, Reece James, Kobbie Mainoo, Marcus Rashford, Morgan Rogers, Bukayo Saka, Djed Spence, Ivan Toney, James Trafford, Ollie Watkins

Referee – Clement Turpin (France)

4 Trackbacks / Pingbacks

  1. Kane Believes England’s Win Over Norway Wasn’t “prettiest performance” – Sport Grill
  2. BBC and ITV Confirm UK Broadcast Picks in 2026 World Cup Semi-Finals – Sport Grill
  3. Bellingham Praises “character” of England in Comeback Victory Over Norway – Sport Grill
  4. 2026 FIFA World Cup: Semi-Finals – England vs Argentina – Sport Grill

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