Miami: England advance to semi-finals after contentious Norway victory
England secured a 2-1 victory over Norway in their World Cup 2026 quarter-final match in Miami, setting up a semi-final clash with Argentina. The match was marked by controversy surrounding Jude Bellingham’s equalising goal, which Norway players and coaching staff believed should have been disallowed due to the ball potentially striking a spidercam wire.
Norway’s head coach, Stale Solbakken, stated that many on his bench reacted immediately, believing the ball had touched the wire. He noted that the ball appeared to drop “straight from heaven” in front of the bench. However, the referee, Clement Turpin, reportedly did not see the incident and received no message indicating a touch.
Controversy Surrounds Equaliser
The incident occurred in first-half stoppage time after Norway had taken the lead through Andreas Schjelderup’s opener. Replays showed Norway goalkeeper Orjan Nyland’s goal kick passing near a spidercam cable. The ball then fell to Elliot Anderson, who passed to Anthony Gordon, leading to Bellingham’s goal.
Norway midfielder Sander Berge described the situation as “ridiculous” and felt that the margins were not in their favour. Captain Martin Odegaard also questioned the refereeing decisions, though he did not personally witness the incident.
Fifa later issued a statement indicating there was “no evidence” the ball had touched a wire. According to Fifa Media, the sensor in the connected ball showed no peak in its “heartbeat” when in the air, suggesting no contact with the overhead wire that would have altered the ball’s movement.
This technology, similar to a Snickometer used in cricket, had previously been central to a decision in the tournament during Portugal’s 2-1 victory over Croatia. In that match, Croatia’s late equaliser was disallowed after the technology detected a slight touch from Igor Matanovic in an offside position.
England head coach Thomas Tuchel acknowledged the presence of a chip in the ball that could detect even a slight touch, as demonstrated in the Croatia versus Portugal game. He admitted that his side had experienced some fortuitous moments in decisive periods of the match, stating, “I’m not saying we are lucky to win, but we are lucky in decisive moments.”
Tuchel’s Assessment and Bellingham’s Response
Despite the victory, Thomas Tuchel expressed dissatisfaction with England’s performance, describing it as “sloppy.” He noted that his team could play faster and more clinically, citing too many unforced errors and technical mistakes. However, Tuchel clarified that there was no disconnect between him and his team, stating his affection for his players.
Jude Bellingham, who scored both of England’s goals, dismissed Tuchel’s assessment. When informed of his manager’s comments, Bellingham responded, “Yeah well, whatever. It’s a tough shift, so my thoughts and appreciation go to the players who’ve put a tough shift out there.”
Bellingham suggested that Tuchel might not fully understand the physical demands of playing in such conditions against a strong Norway side, which included players like Erling Haaland, Martin Odegaard, Antonio Nusa, and Alexander Sorloth. He emphasised the necessity of winning “dirty” in tournament football, stating, “Sometimes, you have to win dirty.”
The match was described as a gruelling affair, with the heat and humidity of Miami impacting players. Declan Rice, for instance, reportedly lacked his usual energy due to illness. Bellingham’s brace in the quarter-final brought his tournament tally to six goals, placing him level with captain Harry Kane and two goals behind top scorers Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi.
Norway also had a second-half header from Torbjorn Heggem disallowed after a VAR review penalised Erling Haaland for a shove on Elliot Anderson during a corner kick. Berge commented that while Haaland’s physical strength is an advantage, players can be penalised for holding opponents.
England’s progression to the semi-finals marks their first appearance at this stage of the World Cup since 2018. They are now set to face reigning champions Argentina on Wednesday.
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Source: bbc.co.uk
As NewsUK's Senior Football Correspondent, Thomas Beckwith reports on the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side for readers across the country. He reported on three World Cups for a national news agency. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from Sheffield Hallam University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Thomas lives in Sheffield, where he watches lower-league football most weekends. “Football writing is about the decisions, not just the result.”
