FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarter-Final: Jude Bellingham inspires England to comeback win over Norway
FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarter-Final: England bid for a second semi-final in three World Cups when they faced Norway in the last eight of the World Cup.
England 2-1 Norway
England booked a place in the semi-final for the second time in three World Cups after coming from behind to beat Norway in Miami. The quarter-final game proved another test of resolve for an English side growing in stature.
Buoyed by the enthralling win over Mexico in the previous round, England started the tie on the front foot. But they didn’t look as dominant as expected, likely due to their exertions in Azteca a few days ago. The game remained tight and tense, with both sides giving little away.
But Norway had a moment of encouragement when Erling Haaland almost pounced on a John Stones loose ball, but Jordan Pickford gathered it quickly. However, luck ran out for England soon.
Andreas Schjelderup ran down the left wing, and it looked like he was going to cross the ball for Haaland in the box. Instead, his curling effort caught Pickford off guard, and the ball went in off the far post to give Norway the lead in the 36th minute.
England desperately needed some answers, and Jude Bellingham stepped up once again. In stoppage time of the first half, Anthony Gordon did well to find him, and the Real Madrid star carried the ball away from Torbjorn Heggem and drove a finish in the bottom-right corner to help his team draw level.
But it was Norway who came out with more intent in the second half. Pickford did well to tip away Haaland’s header, and Landslaget scored when Heggem rifled a shot into the net from a corner. However, a VAR review found that Haaland had pushed Elliot Anderson before the corner, and the goal was ruled out.
Another corner saw Kristoffer Ajer’s header strike the crossbar with England’s defending all over the place. The game went into extra time, and the Three Lions made a predatory start. Orjan Nyland could only push out a long-range effort from substitute Morgan Rogers’s long-range effort, and Bellingham was on hand to put the ball into the net in the 93rd minute.
Djed Spence, who looked energetic after coming on, went down in the box, and a penalty was awarded. Yet again, a VAR review overturned the decision as the game remained finely poised. Bukayo Saka then went close to making it 3-1 but Nyland denied him. Still, England did enough to ensure they reached the semi-final of a World Cup for only the fourth time.
Curva Analysis
Norway can take a lot of heart from their first World Cup appearance since 1998. From their opening 4-1 win over Iraq, they looked like a side that wasn’t taking part just to make up the numbers. In the last 16, they overcame a talented Ivory Coast side late, thanks to Erling Haaland.
Their crowning moment, of course, came when they dispatched Brazil 2-1 in the last 16 and looked in control for most of the game. Even in this game against a seasoned tournament side like England, they might think they were hard done by some bad luck, which ended their campaign. They still have a talented bunch of players, many of whom play in top European leagues for some of the big clubs.
This will bode well for them when Euro 2028 qualification begins soon. Also, with the promise of a golden generation, their fans will hope they won’t have to wait another 28 years before making a World Cup experience.
They made quite an impact at this tournament, with their Viking row celebration going viral and Haaland taking over the memes. In four years’ time, the football world should be ready to welcome them again on the big stage.
As for England, well, this side is coming of age. Eight years ago, when they reached the semi-finals of the World Cup in Russia, it was believed to be a run that came out of nowhere, and many thought it carried an element of luck. But no such assumptions can be made here.
The team reached two successive European championship finals under Gareth Southgate, and despite the heartbreak in those games, they now look battle-hardened under the German Tuchel. This team knows how to overcome adversity, is unfazed by the big occasion, and reflects the pragmatism and authority of their current head coach.
Coming from behind against DR Congo, conquering Mexico in Azteca, and now seeing off a determined Norway side means they refuse to go away at any point. In Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, they have actual world class talent with a supporting cast that complements them well. Winning the World Cup? Spain or France might have something to say about it.
But even those teams would know that this England side looks different, plays different, and, more importantly, knows how to win.
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