Bellingham's Heroics Seal England's Semifinal Spot
England moved into the World Cup semifinals with a gritty 2-1 win over Norway in a quarterfinal that stretched into extra time, a result that kept their tournament hopes alive.
Jude Bellingham was the decisive figure, striking twice and delivering the winner in the additional period, a performance that has thrust him into the Golden Boot conversation and marked him as the youngest player to achieve a brace in back-to-back knockout matches.
Norway’s Martin Ødegaard orchestrated much of the early threat, setting up the opening goal and dictating play, but England’s defense, anchored by John Stones, limited Erling Haaland’s influence and kept the visitors at bay.
Midfielder Elliot Anderson completed the full 120 minutes with a 94% pass completion rate, while winger Anthony Gordon contributed an assist, won four dribbles and helped create space for Bellingham’s first strike.
The victory also placed Bellingham level with Harry Kane in the race for the tournament’s top scorer, underscoring the emergence of a new generation of English talent.
With the semifinal beckoning, England will look to carry this momentum forward, while Norway’s campaign ends after a valiant effort that highlighted both Ødegaard’s creativity and the defensive resilience of Stones.