Bellingham attacks subdue Norway and take England to the World Cup semi-finals

Miami is sold to the world in postcards with turquoise waters, yachts gliding through Biscayne Bay and beaches where the horizon seems to dissolve in sunlight. But the World Cup quarter-final between England and Norway, separated by just 325 nautical miles across the shallow, choppy North Sea, was played almost 20 miles inland, in the hot, humid expanse of Miami Gardens, far removed from the glamor of the waterfront.

Here, in perhaps America’s most Spanish-speaking metropolis, two European countries were aiming for a place in the last four until Jude Bellingham’s extra-time goal gave England a 2-1 victory.

Norway vs England – As it happened

The Three Lions started with more possession and looked most threatening when Noni Madueke broke free down the right, but his final ball rarely matched the threat of his movement. An inviting cutback found the unmarked Nico O’Reilly in the penalty area, but the ball arrived with too much speed to divert the England defender. Jude Bellingham briefly squeezed away before Kristoffer Ajer brought him down, but Harry Kane’s free-kick drifted harmlessly over the crossbar. David Beckham watches from the stands and sees little of his old magic being recreated.

Norway, meanwhile, defended deep, allowing England to circulate possession and trusting that a mistake would eventually come. It almost came from John Stones. His loose touch in his own area invited Erling Haaland to the ball, but the Norwegian striker looked caught off guard by the unexpected gift, allowing Jordan to smother Pickford before the danger really manifested.

The reprieve lasted only a few moments. Patrick Berg picked out Kane in midfield and as England appealed for a foul, Norway quickly found Andreas Schjelderup on the left. He curled a left-footed shot past Pickford, the ball kissing the inside of the far post before ending up in the net.

But the Norwegian fans barely had time to celebrate before England responded. Bellingham collected possession outside the area, shrugged off his marker and curled a finish past Ørjan Nyland. As he drove away, fists clenched and roaring towards the center circle, the match was lively again.

READ | Should Bellingham’s goal against Norway be disallowed – controversy explained

However, Norway felt the equalizer should never have counted as Nyland’s goal-kick appeared to brush the camera cable before falling kindly to Anthony Gordon. But FIFA later said no impact was registered by the ball’s connected heart rate sensor.

Kane then thought he had completed the turnaround with a delicate chip over Nyland, but the assistant’s flag revealed he had strayed just in front of him.

It was Norway’s turn to believe it had restored its lead when Torbjørn Heggem came home after a frantic battle following a third consecutive corner. But this celebration was also cut short by perhaps the strangest VAR intervention of the tournament. The officials ruled that Haaland had shoved Elliot Anderson before the final corner had even been taken, wiping out the goal and ordering the set-piece to be regained.

England enjoyed longer periods of possession, while Norway remained dangerous every time Martin Ødegaard found runners breaking past midfield. Chances appeared at both ends, but so did desperate defending as the quarter-final drifted inexorably towards 30 extra minutes.

Right at the start of extra time, Nyland squandered Morgan Rogers’ long-range effort and, as he had done so many times at this World Cup, Bellingham arrived first to put England ahead.

Norway had spent the evening trying to drag England into the choppy waters they know so well, but when the lights went down over Miami Gardens it was the English Lions who emerged with a steadier hand on the tiller and secured a place in the semi-finals.

Published on July 12, 2026