England advances to World Cup semi-finals after victory over Norway

By Bilal Ahmed

By Bilal Ahmed — 12 July 2026 — 3 min read

England secures semi-final spot

England has advanced to the World Cup semi-finals for the fourth time, securing a 2-1 victory over Norway in Miami. The match saw Jude Bellingham score twice, including the extra-time winner, after Andreas Schjelderup had initially put Norway ahead in the 36th minute. Bellingham’s first goal, an equalizer, came just before halftime.

The decisive goal occurred three minutes into extra time when Morgan Rogers took a long-range shot that Norway goalkeeper Orjan Nyland parried, allowing Bellingham to convert the rebound. This win marks England’s fourth semi-final appearance in their last five major championships, with previous semi-final qualifications in 1966, 1990, and 2018.

Despite the victory, England manager Thomas Tuchel expressed dissatisfaction with his team’s performance. He described the play as “sloppy” and noted a high number of technical mistakes, stating, “We made life very, very difficult for ourselves.” Tuchel highlighted that the team got “lucky” and emphasized that their progression was due to “pure mentality.”

Managerial critique and player response

Tuchel’s comments came after a quarter-final where Norway took the lead, missed a significant chance to extend it, had a goal disallowed, and hit the crossbar. He acknowledged his love for the team but stressed the need for improvement, stating, “We can play better, there are a lot of things to do better.”

Bellingham, who scored in the 47th and 93rd minutes, responded to his manager’s criticism by acknowledging the challenging conditions. He mentioned the difficulty of playing against strong opponents like Erling Haaland, Martin Odegaard, Antonio Nusa, and Alexander Sorloth in hot and humid weather. Bellingham asserted that sometimes a team has to “win dirty,” which England managed to do.

Former England players, however, praised Tuchel’s frank assessment. Alan Shearer commended Tuchel for his honesty, noting that past managers might have offered a more positive spin. Wayne Rooney agreed, stating that Tuchel was “spot on in terms of the mentality” and that the team’s character was crucial in overcoming Norway, who were the better team for large portions of the game.

Path to the semi-finals and future expectations

England’s journey to the semi-finals has involved several challenging matches. They overcame Croatia 4-2 in their first group game, were held by Ghana, defeated Panama 2-0, came from behind against DR Congo, and secured a 3-2 victory over Mexico with 10 men. Throughout these games, the team has often relied on individual performances, particularly from Bellingham and Harry Kane, to navigate difficult situations.

The quarter-final against Norway was physically demanding, lasting 122 minutes in hot and humid conditions in Miami. England will have limited recovery time before their semi-final match against either Argentina or Switzerland, which is scheduled to take place in Atlanta. Former England defender Matt Upson anticipates a different approach from England in the upcoming semi-final, especially given the potential for less humid conditions.

Norway, despite their exit, garnered praise for their performance. Captain Martin Odegaard expressed pride in the team’s journey, marking their first World Cup appearance in 28 years. Norway coach Stale Solbakken lamented the loss but acknowledged his team played “fantastic football against a super team.”

Source: bbc.com