Bellingham brace sends England past Norway into semis
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- Jude Bellingham scored twice — equalizing in first-half stoppage time and netting the winner three minutes into extra time — as England rallied past Norway 2-1 in their World Cup quarterfinal in Miami Gardens.
- Norway took the lead through Andreas Schjelderup's 36th-minute left-footed strike that crashed in off the far post past goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
- Bellingham is now tied with Harry Kane at six tournament goals, trailing France's Kylian Mbappé and Argentina's Lionel Messi, who each sit on eight.
- England advances to face the winner of Argentina vs. Switzerland in the semifinals in Atlanta on Wednesday, marking their second semifinal in three World Cups — they haven't reached a final since winning the tournament as host in 1966.
- Thomas Tuchel called his side's display "sloppy" with "a lot of technical mistakes" and said England "were lucky today"; Bellingham brushed off the criticism with "whatever, whatever."
- The match was marred by controversy — moments before Bellingham's equalizer, the ball appeared to strike an aerial camera cable (FIFA denied contact), and England had a late extra-time penalty awarded and then overturned via VAR review.
- Norway coach Ståle Solbakken surprisingly substituted striker Erling Haaland for Jørgen Strand Larsen at halftime of extra time, with players on both sides visibly struggling in oppressive heat.
Why it matters: England reach their first World Cup semifinal since 2018, but Tuchel labeled the performance "sloppy" and admitted they "were lucky" — a warning sign ahead of a semifinal likely against Argentina or Switzerland. The controversial calls — a possible camera-cable incident and a reversed penalty — give Norway ample ammunition to contest the result.
