Miami: England advance to World Cup semi-finals after extra-time victory over Norway
England secured a 2-1 extra-time victory against Norway in Miami, advancing to the World Cup semi-finals. The match saw Jude Bellingham score two goals, cancelling out Andreas Schjelderup’s opener for Norway. The game was marked by controversy surrounding Bellingham’s equaliser, with Norway claiming the ball hit a spidercam wire.
Norway’s exit from the tournament was accompanied by frustration over several refereeing decisions. Midfielder Sander Berge stated, “It’s ridiculous, this one with the wire.” Captain Martin Odegaard also expressed concerns, noting that “margins were not in our favour today with some of the decisions.”
Controversy Surrounding Bellingham’s Equaliser
The incident occurred in first-half stoppage time when England were trailing. Replays showed Norway goalkeeper Orjan Nyland’s goal kick passing close to a spidercam cable suspended above the playing surface. The ball then fell to Elliot Anderson, who passed to Anthony Gordon, leading to Bellingham’s goal.
Several Norway players immediately protested to referee Clement Turpin, arguing the goal should have been disallowed. Norway head coach Stale Solbakken spoke with the official at half-time. Solbakken later recounted that the referee did not see the incident and received no message indicating a touch on the wire.
Fifa later stated there was “no evidence” the ball had touched a wire. A post on X from Fifa Media clarified that the sensor in the connected ball showed no peak in its ‘heartbeat’ when in the air, indicating no contact with the overhead wire that would have changed the ball’s movement. Despite this, Solbakken maintained that the ball “dropped down straight from heaven,” suggesting it did make contact.
Former England striker Wayne Rooney, speaking on a sports programme, observed that the ball seemed to “deviate and come down quickly,” suggesting a touch. The Snickometer-style technology, typically associated with cricket, had previously been central to a controversy in the tournament during Portugal’s victory over Croatia.
England head coach Thomas Tuchel commented on the technology, noting that the chip in the ball should be able to detect even a slight touch. He admitted that his side had been fortunate in decisive moments, stating, “I’m not saying we are lucky to win, but we are lucky in decisive moments.”
Tuchel’s Assessment of England’s Performance
Despite the victory, Thomas Tuchel was not entirely pleased with his team’s performance. He described the win as “fantastic” and acknowledged reaching the last four was “amazing,” but expressed unhappiness with the performance, citing sloppiness and technical mistakes.
Tuchel suggested that “pure mentality” was a key factor in England’s advancement. Bellingham, who scored in the 47th and 93rd minutes, responded to his manager’s comments by saying, “Yeah well, whatever. It’s difficult out there, it’s a tough shift.” He highlighted the effort put in by all the players.
England have faced challenges throughout the tournament, including a draw with Ghana, a 2-0 win against Panama, and a 3-2 victory over Mexico with 10 men. Tuchel, while expressing his affection for the team, believes they can play better and need to improve.
Bellingham also defended the team’s performance, pointing to the hot and humid conditions in Miami and the quality of Norway’s players, including Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard. He remarked, “You can’t win every game popping the ball and making 1,000 passes, sometimes you have to win dirty and we did that today.”
Looking Ahead to the Semi-Finals
England’s path to the semi-finals has often relied on individual performances to overcome difficulties. Bellingham’s double against Norway followed his two goals against Mexico, and Harry Kane’s late double secured a win against DR Congo.
Former England captain Alan Shearer praised Tuchel’s honesty in his post-match assessment, noting that the team showed resilience. Wayne Rooney echoed these sentiments, stating that Tuchel was “spot on in terms of the mentality” and that the team’s character saw them through the game.
Former England defender Matt Upson anticipates a different approach from England in the semi-final, especially in less humid conditions. England will face either Argentina or Switzerland in the semi-finals, which will take place in Atlanta.
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Source: bbc.com
Isla Hartley is a Sports Reporter at NewsUK. She covered the British summer of sport from Wimbledon to the Test grounds. She focuses on tennis, cricket and athletics and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. She holds a degree in Sports Studies from the University of Stirling and completed an NCTJ diploma. Now based in Glasgow, she runs half-marathons and follows Scottish athletics. “The overlooked athlete usually has the better story.”
