England advance to World Cup semi-finals
England secured their place in the World Cup 2026 semi-finals following a 2-1 extra-time victory against Norway in Miami. The match saw Jude Bellingham score both goals for England, turning the tide after Norway had initially taken the lead. This quarter-final fixture was played on Saturday, 11 July 2026.
The encounter was a significant challenge for England, who had previously navigated the heat of the Azteca Stadium to defeat Mexico in the preceding round. Norway, coming off a win against Brazil, presented a formidable opponent, with Erling Haaland having scored both goals in their previous match and accumulating seven goals in the tournament to date.
Key player performances
Jordan Pickford, England‘s goalkeeper, became the most-capped player for England in World Cups during this match. However, he was reportedly caught out by Andreas Schjelderup‘s cross, which led to Norway‘s opening goal, contributing to what was described as an uncertain performance. In defence, Ezri Konsa delivered a dependable performance at right-back, despite it not being his natural position, showcasing his importance to the team. Marc Guehi was noted for effectively managing Erling Haaland, an impressive feat given he had been nursing a hamstring issue. John Stones also made a crucial interception, preventing a potential chance for Haaland.
Nico O’Reilly, the Manchester City player, has reportedly grown in confidence throughout the tournament, undertaking a complex role as left-back while also offering an option in the left-sided number 10 space. Declan Rice, who started as England‘s deepest midfielder, was substituted at half-time, with suggestions that an illness he had earlier in the week might have affected his performance. Noni Madueke also had a disappointing first half and was replaced at the break.
Jude Bellingham was central to England‘s success, stepping up to score both goals and continuing his strong form throughout the tournament. His performance was highlighted as instrumental in guiding England through difficult moments. Anthony Gordon, the winger, provided energy to the attack and assisted Bellingham‘s equaliser. Harry Kane, the England captain, found little space against Norway‘s well-organised defence and had a goal disallowed for offside in the first half.
Substitutions and impact
Manager Thomas Tuchel made several changes at half-time, bringing on Eberechi Eze and Bukayo Saka. While Eze was introduced to spark the midfield, the change did not immediately yield results, leading to him being shifted to the left wing. Saka, on the other hand, delivered two dangerous crosses and made two effective defensive tackles, managing his minutes as intended. Later in the game, Reece James came on in central midfield before moving to his natural right-back position as Tuchel continued to adjust the team.
Djed Spence was introduced in the 86th minute to counter the threat of Oscar Bobb and offered an attacking threat on the counter-attack, even winning a penalty that was subsequently overturned by the video assistant referee. Morgan Rogers, an Aston Villa forward, played a crucial role in the build-up to Bellingham‘s second goal, with his shot being spilled into the area for the decisive strike. Dan Burn was brought on in the 111th minute as England aimed to secure their lead in the final moments of the game.
The victory means England will progress to the semi-finals of the World Cup 2026, following a hard-fought match in Miami on 11 July 2026.
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Source: bbc.com
George Hartwell is the Senior Football Correspondent at News-GB.org, covering the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side with twelve years of reporting experience. He reported on West Country football before national coverage. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from the University of the West of England and completed an NCTJ diploma. Based in Bristol, he watches grassroots football and writes a tactics column. “Tactics tell you more than any scoreline.”