England booked their place in the semifinals of the FIFA World Cup after defeating Norway 2-1 in a dramatic extra-time contest on Saturday night, with Jude Bellingham scoring twice to inspire Thomas Tuchel’s side to victory.
Bellingham struck in first-half stoppage time and again moments into extra time as England recovered from an early deficit and survived a fierce Norwegian fightback to set up a place in the last four.
The quarterfinal began cautiously, with both teams mindful of the stakes. England enjoyed more possession in the opening stages, while Norway sought opportunities to release Erling Haaland and Alexander Sorloth on the counterattack.
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Anthony Gordon provided England’s early attacking spark, repeatedly troubling the Norwegian defence down the left flank, but Declan Rice wasted a pair of promising set-piece opportunities as the Three Lions struggled to create clear-cut chances.
Norway gradually grew into the game and almost capitalised when John Stones lost possession near his own penalty area, only for Haaland to react a fraction too slowly and allow Jordan Pickford to gather.
The breakthrough came in the 36th minute. Harry Kane was dispossessed near the centre circle by Patrick Berg, and while England players appealed for a foul, Norway continued the attack.
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Andreas Schjelderup drove forward from the left and delivered a swerving ball that deceived Pickford, struck the far post and bounced into the net to give Norway a 1-0 lead.
England looked rattled and were fortunate not to concede again when Sorloth wasted a two-on-one opportunity with Haaland.
Just as Norway appeared set to take their advantage into the interval, Bellingham produced another moment of brilliance.
In the second minute of added time, Gordon’s low cross found the Real Madrid midfielder on the edge of the area.
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Bellingham took two touches, shifted the ball onto his right foot and curled a superb finish beyond goalkeeper Orjan Nyland to level the score at 1-1.
England thought they had completed the turnaround moments later when Kane chipped Nyland after being released by Bellingham, but the England captain was correctly flagged offside.
The second half was played at a frantic pace. Norway twice threatened from corners, and in the 55th minute they appeared to have restored their lead when Leo Ostigard’s effort was blocked and the rebound was turned in by Heggem from close range.
However, VAR intervened and ruled the goal out after Haaland had shoved Elliot Anderson before the corner was taken, resulting in the set piece being retaken instead.
That decision proved a major turning point. Norway continued to press, with Antonio Nusa causing problems after coming off the bench.
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Moller Wolfe struck the crossbar with a looping header, while Pickford was called upon to deal with several dangerous deliveries into the box.
England, though, remained dangerous on the break. Bukayo Saka nearly created a late winner in the 88th minute when his low cross flashed across goal, only for Fredrik Aursnes to make a vital clearance with Kane and Eberechi Eze waiting to finish.
With the score still tied after 90 minutes, the match went into extra time.
England seized control in the 93rd minute. Morgan Rogers unleashed a powerful shot from distance that Nyland failed to hold, spilling the ball into the six-yard area.
Bellingham reacted quickest and bundled the rebound home to put England ahead 2-1 and take his tournament tally to six goals.
Norway were handed a lifeline when the referee initially awarded England a penalty after Djed Spence went down under a challenge from Oscar Bobb, but VAR overturned the decision after determining that Spence had deliberately stepped across the Norwegian winger to create the contact.
The Scandinavians threw everything forward in the closing stages. Bobb fired over from the edge of the area, Berg also missed a good opportunity, and Nusa’s dangerous crosses repeatedly tested the England defence.
Tuchel introduced Dan Burn for the exhausted Bellingham as England sought to protect their advantage.
Despite intense pressure, England held firm. Marc Guehi and Stones produced a series of important clearances, while Pickford commanded his area confidently as Norway searched desperately for an equaliser.
When the final whistle sounded, England’s players celebrated reaching the World Cup semifinals after a hard-fought victory over one of the tournament’s most impressive sides.
Bellingham’s outstanding performance ultimately proved decisive, as the midfielder once again delivered on the biggest stage to send England into the final four with a memorable 2-1 extra-time triumph over Norway.