Jude Bellingham delivered another defining World Cup performance as England came from behind to beat Norway 2-1 after extra time in Miami and reach the semi-finals.
England were made to suffer in punishing heat at the Hard Rock Stadium, where Norway pushed Thomas Tuchel’s side to the edge in their first ever World Cup quarter-final.
Andreas Schjelderup gave Norway a surprise lead in the first half, but Bellingham dragged England back into the match before the break with a composed left-footed finish.
The midfielder then settled the tie in extra time, reacting quickest after Norway goalkeeper Orjan Nyland spilled Morgan Rogers’ long-range effort. Bellingham swept in the rebound for his sixth goal of the tournament and sent England into the last four.
England will now face either Argentina or Switzerland on Wednesday as they continue their push to reach a first World Cup final since 1966.
Norway started with confidence and looked dangerous whenever they broke forward. Jordan Pickford had to save low from Martin Odegaard, while Alexander Sorloth wasted a promising opening when he chose to shoot instead of finding Erling Haaland.
Schjelderup punished England soon after, giving Norway a lead that reflected their sharper start. Tuchel’s side looked unsettled, short of rhythm and uncomfortable in the Miami heat.
Bellingham changed that with one moment of quality.
After receiving Anthony Gordon’s pass, he drove into the box at speed and finished calmly with his weaker left foot. It was a goal that arrived just when England needed direction, and it shifted the mood before half-time.
England almost went ahead before the interval when Bellingham turned creator for Harry Kane. The captain lifted the ball over Nyland, but the flag went up for offside.
Tuchel made changes at the break, introducing Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze for Noni Madueke and Declan Rice. Rice had been unwell earlier in the week, but the reshuffle also left England lighter in midfield.
Norway sensed that and enjoyed strong spells in the second half. They thought they had gone back in front when Torbjorn Heggem turned in at the back post, only for VAR to rule the goal out for a foul by Haaland on Elliott Anderson before the corner was taken.
It was a major escape for England. Norway came close again when Kristoffer Ajer hit the crossbar after another dangerous set-piece, with Tuchel’s defence struggling to clear its lines.
The conditions began to take their toll late on. Both teams slowed, challenges became heavier and the game lost some of its early sharpness, but neither side could find a winner in normal time.
Extra time brought the decisive mistake.
Nyland had been excellent in Norway’s famous win over Brazil, but this time he could not hold Rogers’ shot. Bellingham was alert, balanced and ruthless, turning the loose ball into the goal that ended Norway’s historic run.
England were awarded a penalty moments later, but VAR overturned the decision after ruling that Djed Spence had initiated the contact inside the box.
Norway had little left after that. Haaland, whose run of scoring in 14 straight competitive matches for his country came to an end, was taken off at half-time in extra time after giving everything in draining conditions.
For Norway, the defeat hurts, but their campaign remains historic. They reached their first World Cup quarter-final, knocked out Brazil and gave England a serious test.
For England, the performance was far from perfect, but the result matters most. After coming from behind against DR Congo and now Norway, Tuchel’s side are finding ways to survive difficult knockout matches.
Once again, Bellingham was the difference. England needed someone to take control of the moment, and he did.
