England secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over Norway in the World Cup quarterfinals, with Jude Bellingham delivering a standout performance to propel the Three Lions into the semifinals.
Match Summary
The match, played at a packed stadium, saw Norway take an early lead through Erling Haaland in the 12th minute. However, England responded quickly, with Harry Kane equalizing from the penalty spot in the 25th minute after a foul on Bukayo Saka.
Jude Bellingham then scored the winner in the 68th minute, latching onto a through ball from Declan Rice and calmly slotting past the Norwegian goalkeeper. The goal sparked wild celebrations among the England fans.
Key Moments
Norway dominated possession in the first half, but England's defense held firm. Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford made several crucial saves, including a stop from Haaland's header in the 55th minute. England's midfield, led by Bellingham, controlled the tempo in the second half.
According to match statistics, England had 52% possession and 10 shots on target compared to Norway's 7. Bellingham completed 89% of his passes and made three key passes.
Impact
This victory marks England's first World Cup semifinal appearance since 2018. Manager Gareth Southgate praised his team's resilience: "We showed great character to come from behind. Bellingham was outstanding, and the whole team stepped up."
Norway manager Ståle Solbakken said: "We gave it our all, but England were clinical. Bellingham's goal was the difference."
