Fifa World Cup: England march into semi-finals with comeback victory over Norway
The Three Lions continue to roar.
For the first time since 2018, England have progressed into the final four at the Fifa World Cup after a 2-1 extra-time win over Norway in the heat and humidity in Miami, Florida.
As the English fell behind to a wonderful strike from Norwegian winger Andreas Schjelderup, it was a familiar face who stepped up to be his country’s hero.
Jude Bellingham, who has been a key figure for England throughout the tournament, netted twice for the second game in a row to lead his side through.
Speaking after the game, Bellingham said character and perseverance were key to the win.
“Even when things weren’t working, we found a way to win the game again today. Whether it’s in 90 [minutes] or 120, we’ll give everything we’ve got,” he said on the broadcast.
“You saw that there. Whoever was ready to come on came on and smashed it, so I’m so proud of this team again. A World Cup semi-final.”
His first, just before halftime, came from a delightful delivery across the top of the goal box from Anthony Gordon. Bellingham took the pass in stride, with three touches away from the goal before firing back across the face and beating the outstretched leg of Norway goalkeeper Orjan Nyland.
With the scores level at halftime, it was Norway who had the better of things in the second half - a reversal of roles from an England-dominated first 40 minutes.
But while they had some promising moments on attack, the English defence was up to the challenge.
The injection of Bukayo Saka for Noni Madueke on the right wing provided a spark in the England attack as every opportunity that looked promising for the side seemed to flow through the Arsenal man.
But while both sides were able to create chances, neither could find the strike to go ahead.
Norway thought they had it around the 60-minute mark when defender Torbjorn Heggem netted a loose ball in a scramble around the goal mouth from a corner.
What would have been his first international goal was ruled out, however, with striker Erling Haaland ruled to have pushed a defender over before the corner was taken.
England showed their intent late in the contest, replacing defender Ezri Konsa with attacking midfielder Morgan Rogers, and it was Rogers who created the match-winning opportunity.
Getting the ball in space just beyond the goal box early in extra time, Rogers sent a strong strike towards the goal that Nyland could only parry in front of him.
Unfortunately for the Norwegian shot-stopper, Bellingham was the first man to the loose ball and made no mistake with the opportunity.
“I’ve scored a lot of those sorts of goals to be fair. The ‘keeper had a worldie but he was unlucky with the way it popped up and I was just lucky to be there to put it in.”
While it might have been billed as a clash of the titans up front, both England’s Harry Kane and Haaland were kept in check, neither getting a clear opportunity to strike.
Norway had to replace Haaland for the second half of extra time as he appeared to be struggling in the first additional stanza.
England now await the winner of the last quarter-final between Argentina and Switzerland, as they continue their bid for a first World Cup win since 1966.
That will do it for the blog
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Thanks for tuning in. You'll be able to find a live blog for Argentina v Switzerland - kick off at 1pm NZT - at nzherald.co.nz/sport from 12.45pm.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend.
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ENGLAND MOVE INTO THE SEMI-FINALS
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Jude Bellingham is the difference-maker today. His brace sees the Three Lions into the final four for the first time since 2018. They'll meet either Argentina or Switzerland, who play later today (1pm kick-off NZT)
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Djed Spence thumps it clear.
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Norway with probably one final attack
Two added minutes
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England in possession and I imagine they'll look to keep it that way.
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Norway back on the attack but it's a hopeful ball forward from Aursnes which is easy pickings for the English defence.
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Harry Kane throws himself to the ground. The referee orders him to his feet.
119 minutes gone
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How many more chances will Norway get?
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Good delivery from Odegaard forces Pickford to come out and punch it.
Pickford goes down and stays down after a collision with Rogers. The referee stops play as Pickford is down, and the Norwegians are fuming.
Kristoffer Ajer is booked for giving the referee a serve.
116 minutes gone
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Free kick to Norway near halfway. England can live with that sort of challenge at this point.
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Norway marching forward again now but England are keeping them contained.
Chance!
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The ball falls kindly for Bobb at the top of the box but he gets underneath it and misses the target.
113 minutes gone
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Nusa with another shot but it's defelected and Norway get a corner.
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Norway trying to get forward again as England pack their box out. It's a case of protecting the lead for the Three Lions now.
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Norway get forward but Burn is there to break up the cross.
111 minutes gone
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Change for England
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Bellingham out. Dan Burn in.
Chance!
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England go close at the other end - first through Saka, then through Spence, then Saka again.
Norway survive with three saves from Nyland.
Chance!
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Norway with the ball in the attacking third and Patrick Berg finds himself with the ball in plenty of space. He launches a shot but it's over the cross bar.
Have to hit the target there.
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England get the ball up field and look to launch an attack but Saka is called for a foul and that comes to nothing.
Norway will try to launch something from the back now.
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Nusa fires a dangerous ball in but it's dealt with.
Bellingham goes down after an awkward collision, but he appears to be fine.
Second half of extra time begins
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Can Norway find an equaliser?
Haaland is being replaced
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He looked like he was struggling during that first period of extra time. Jorgen Strand Larsen enters.
HALFTIME IN EXTRA TIME
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England take a 2-1 lead and they're 15 minutes (plus stoppage time) away from a semi-final berth.
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England in possession again and Bellingham fires - well over the cross bar.
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Eze gets the ball in an offside position and the attack fizzles out.
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England working forward now, but Norway are defending well. England are finding plenty of space now though.
Three minutes of added time
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Aursenes swings a ball over from the right wing but it's easy pickings for Pickford.
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Testing delivery but it calls kindly for England and they get it clear. Norway will reset from the back.
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Nusa lets a shot rip and Guehi stretches to block it. The ball rolls out for a corner.
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Norway on the attack, with Odegaard on the right wing.
102 minutes gone
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NO PENALTY
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Spence judged to have moved to put his leg in front of Bobb and draw the contact. England fans won't be happy with that call, but there remains hope for the Norwegians.
PENALTY ENGLAND (maybe)
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Djed Spence is too strong for Oscar Bobb. He gets in front and hooks his leg in front of Bobb's. There's contact and Spence goes down.
It's given as a penalty, but VAR has piped up. Over to the monitor.
98 minutes gone
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Norway looking for room here but England aren't giving them any.
England take possession and are looking for more!
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All the pressure falls on Norway now as England have one foot in the semi-finals.
GOAL ENGLAND
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Rogers fires from distance, Nyland spills it and Bellingham has another double!
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England stay on the attack and Nyland is forced to make a good save.
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Corner for England. The ball is good but it's cleared.
Change for Norway
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Heggem exits - he looked like he was struggling down the back end there - with Leo Ostigard on.
Extra time begins
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Another 30 minutes of game time for find a goal before penalties are required.
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END OF NORMAL TIME
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England and Norway level at 1-1
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VAR deems it's all good, so away we go. Nyland gets to kick the ball away.
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Or not. They take a throw in from the England half and go backwards.
Heggem gets caught out trying to ease it back to Nyland and appears to take Bellingham out. Could be an issue here for Heggem.
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Norway look like they'll get one final chance here.
Final minute
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England are still trying to find a way through. Bellingham gets his head to a cross, but it sails wide.
90 + 3
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Rogers does a great job to pressure Heggem and force the Norwegian defender to play the ball out. Heggem wanted a foul, but Rogers did nothing wrong there.
Into seven minutes of added time.
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Extra time is looking all the more likely.
Chance!
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Djed Spence rushes up on Nyland and gets a foot to the attempted clearance. Nyland will be relieved that ball didn't end up in the back of the net.
Changes
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Morgan Rogers for Ezri Konsa. Very aggressive move that.
Norway answer with David Moller Wolfe exiting for Marcus Holmgren Pedersen.
88 minutes gone
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And the pressure is relieved as Kane gets called for a push in the box.
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The pressure is still on, with England now having a corner.
Chance!
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England on the attack. Saka works into the box and puts a ball across the face of goal.
It beats Nyland but Aursnes is able to get there before the English strikers.
Change
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Djed Spence replaces Nico O'Reilly.
85 minutes gone
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Will we see a winner in normal time?
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Nusa gets a shot away but it's pretty tame and straight at Pickford.
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Norway back on the attack.
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Norway go very well there to take possession as England try to work it up the wing through Saka.
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The corner is easily dealt with by England, before Norway put it out for a goal kick.
82 minutes gone
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Corner for Norway
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Bobb makes some room for himself but his cross only finds an English head.
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Norway probing again here but so far England are defending well.
Chance!
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Saka sends a good delivery in but it beats everyone and goes out for a goal kick.
77 minutes gone
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England survive there and are now heading on their own attack, but Norway are quick to get back behind the ball and make England work for their space.
Chance!
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Dangerous ball in forces Pickford to punch it away. Aursnes tries to whip it back in and there's a headed effort on the end that only hits the cross bar.
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Promising attack for Norway and they earn a corner.
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Oscar Bobb tries to do far too much as he gets into the box and loses the ball.
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Possession changes feet a couple of times. England are working forward as James sends the ball into the box.
It's tidied up well and Norway break up field.
Play resumes
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Norway have looked the most likely in the second half and they're almost given a gift by Reece James, whose first touch of the match was not great.
England scramble well and maintain possession.
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Changes for both sides, with Sorloth and Schjelderup departing for Norway and Gordon for England.
Three-quarter time
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Locked at 1-1
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England get the ball into the box but it doesn't fall kindly for Kane and Norway thump it clear.
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England go on the attack as Gordon finds some space out wide.
65 minutes gone
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Free kick for England on halfway as Bellingham goes down.
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Norway try to get a ball into the box, but it's all a bit messy and England get a goal kick.
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Norway get back into the attacking third quickly, but they're showing patience with the ball at their feet and work back to their defenders to reset.
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Odegaard tries to place the ball in behind the line for Sorloth to run on to, but it's picked off by the English defence.
60 minutes gone
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Dangerous delivery from the corner but England do enough to clear their lines for now.
Ryerson goes down and looks to be in a bit of discomfort. I imagine Norway will replace their right back now.
Fredrik Aursnes enters the game in his place.
NO GOAL NORWAY
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Foul by Haaland on Anderson before the corner was taken, so they'll retake the corner.
Poor Torbjorn Heggem - he's had his first international goal take away from him.
To the monitor we go
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The referee will have a look. It appears Haaland has pushed Anderson and the English midfielder hit the deck.
GOAL NORWAY (maybe)
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We do love a goalmouth scramble.
It's being checked for a shove in amongst the chaos.
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England do enough to clear a dangerous cross, but it's another Norway corner.
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Norway get back in possession and Haaland gets a shot away, forcing a save from Pickfor.
Another corner for Norway.
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