Bellingham double sends England to World Cup semi-finals
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- Jude Bellingham scored both England goals — a stylish equaliser just before half-time and a close-range extra-time winner — earning a 9/10 player rating in the 2-1 quarter-final win over Norway.
- Andreas Schjelderup's fluke goal gave Norway a shock lead, though Jordan Pickford was judged only mildly culpable as nine times out of ten that shot would fly over.
- Harry Kane delivered his weakest display of the tournament — no shot in 90 minutes — with substitute Bukayo Saka registering more touches in 45 minutes than Kane managed in the full match.
- Declan Rice was withdrawn at half-time after being ill all week, with the source noting England's midfield lost its balance in the second period without him, while Noni Madueke was also hooked having failed to take his chance.
- Elliot Anderson led England with nine ball recoveries — three times as many as any teammate — while Anthony Gordon topped the side for dribbles and registered his third assist of the tournament for Bellingham's first goal.
- Reece James came on in midfield before being moved to right-back, completing just over an hour of action in a boost to a defence that has been stretched by rotation and injuries.
- England will face Argentina or Switzerland in the semi-finals — their first World Cup last-four appearance since 1966 — with Bukayo Saka and Morgan Rogers both impressing off the bench to push for starts.
Why it matters: England have reached a first World Cup semi-final in 60 years, but the player ratings reveal a side leaning heavily on Bellingham — Kane, Rice, and Madueke all underperformed, and Tuchel's midfield balance collapsed once Rice departed at the break, raising real questions about whether England can compete with Argentina or Switzerland without those starters recovering sharply.
