Bellingham’s Brace Seals England’s World Cup Semi-Final Berth Against Norway

England has secured their place in the semi-finals of the 2026 World Cup after a resilient 2-1 extra-time victory over Norway in Miami. Jude Bellingham was the hero for Gareth Southgate’s side, netting both goals, including the crucial winner three minutes into the additional period.

Norway deservedly took the lead in the first half through a spectacular strike from Andreas Schjelderup, who caught Jordan Pickford off guard with an effort that found the top of the net. However, England responded just before the interval, with Anthony Gordon’s pass setting up Bellingham to calmly finish and level the score.

The second half saw both teams have goals disallowed. Harry Kane’s effort was ruled out for offside, while Norway’s Torbjorn Heggem saw his potential go-ahead goal chalked off due to an infringement by Erling Haaland in the build-up.

Bellingham’s decisive moment arrived early in extra time when Orjan Nyland spilled Morgan Rogers’s long-range shot, allowing the Real Madrid midfielder to tap home his second of the match and send England through. The Three Lions also had a penalty award overturned by VAR during the contest.

Norway’s Tactical Battle

Norway’s defensive unit performed admirably for large periods, effectively limiting Harry Kane’s impact. Their midfield asserted control at times, posing a threat on the counter-attack. Martin Odegaard was a key figure, providing the assist for Schjelderup’s opener and coming close to extending their lead himself. The Norwegian front line, including Schjelderup and Haaland, showed flashes of danger, though they were unable to consistently find the final product. Substitutions in the latter stages, including Aursnes and Bobb, injected energy but ultimately couldn’t break down England’s defence.

England’s Resilience and Key Performers

Despite conceding first, England displayed characteristic resilience. Jordan Pickford, while making some crucial saves, showed moments of uncertainty and was caught out by Schjelderup’s opener. The backline, with Konsa adapting well to a new role, was largely dependable. The midfield, however, was dominated by the exceptional performance of Jude Bellingham. His brace not only secured the win but also took his World Cup goal tally to six, placing him in contention for the Golden Boot. Anthony Gordon provided the assist for the equaliser, while Bukayo Saka and Djed Spence made impacts from the bench, with Spence nearly winning a penalty.

Player Ratings Summary

While a full player rating breakdown is available, key performers included Jude Bellingham for England, whose two goals were decisive. For Norway, Andreas Schjelderup impressed with his opening goal. Goalkeeper Orjan Nyland’s late error proved costly for Norway, despite some earlier good saves.

Key facts
| Player | Team | Contribution |
|—|—|—|
| Jude Bellingham | England | 2 Goals |
| Andreas Schjelderup | Norway | 1 Goal |
| Orjan Nyland | Norway | Goalkeeping Error leading to England’s winner |

This victory is significant for England as it propels them into the last four of the World Cup, keeping their hopes of lifting the trophy alive. For fans of the team, it’s another display of their ability to grind out results in crucial knockout matches, albeit with moments of vulnerability that will need addressing before the semi-final.

Source: Sports Mole Football RSS – https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/norway/world-cup-2026/feature/bellingham-to-the-rescue-again-as-england-scrape-through-norway-1-2-england-player-ratings_601074.html

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