England reaches World Cup semi-finals after defeating Norway in extra time

Matches between England and Norway represent more than just football games; they carry deep cultural codes of both nations. The history of these two peoples is closely intertwined, as Vikings repeatedly visited the British Isles, leaving behind not only legends but also a special sense of rivalry. For example, the Stamford Bridge stadium remembers not only modern football battles but also the battle of September 25, 1066, when the English King Harold defeated the Norwegian King Harald Hardrada who attempted to invade Britain.

Modern Confrontation and Statistics

In a recent confrontation, Harry Kane and Erling Haaland were the main players. However, another footballer turned out to be the star of the match at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. For Norwegians, English football has held almost religious significance for many decades: since the late 1960s, the local broadcaster NRK regularly broadcast matches from Great Britain, inspiring an entire generation of young men. Furthermore, before the start of the 2026 World Cup, the England and Norway national teams had played only 13 official matches, with the Norwegians winning only twice.

Match Progression and Key Moments

The most famous match before this evening was the game in Oslo in 1981, after which commentator Bjørge Lillelien addressed British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher with the phrase: 'Your boys got a hell of a beating!'. 45 years later, this match gave the Norwegians another opportunity to repeat a similar tirade. Judging by the initial team morale, a low-scoring match was expected, and neither side aimed for open football. The 'Lions' first broke this cautious balance, causing commentators to frequently mention Jude Bellingham. He became active, created a dangerous moment for Harry Kane, and caused problems for Erling Haaland in front of the goal.

The Norwegians suddenly showed determination, remembering that they were participating in the World Cup not to watch someone else's game. The Scandinavian coach Tore Solbakken was criticized for leaving the prodigy Antonio Nusa on the bench, entrusting the left flank to Andreas Schjelderup. This substitution proved effective: Schjelderup sent the ball into the goal, and Jordan Pickford obviously did not expect such a development. The goalkeeper, continuing the long-standing English tradition of errors at crucial moments, merely watched the ball—the score became 0-1.

Development and Goals

At that moment, many in England might have frozen, and the Norwegians could have gone to halftime with a two-goal lead, as Haaland and Serlo attacked one defender. However, the forward from Atletico Madrid decided to pause and delayed a clear scoring pass. A few minutes later, Bellingham demonstrated what happens with such carelessness. Receiving a pass from Elliot Anderson, he bypassed Torbjørn Heggem and sent the ball into the corner—1-1.

In the second half, the Norwegians used a basketball-like tactic: they confidently reclaimed the central area and regularly won rebounds. Another corner kick led to a virtual siege of the English penalty area. After a shot by Patrick Berg, the cautioned Heggem was the first to reach the rebound. Only the intervention of VAR allowed England to avoid a second conceded goal, as French referee Clément Turpin saw that Haaland had fouled in the penalty area, excessively using his hands.

Finale and England's Victory

The English coach Thomas Tuchel, who significantly revised the squad before the tournament, acted methodically, bringing on fresh players and restructuring the midfield, as is characteristic of his German meticulousness. However, the timing of his Norwegian opponent's substitutions seemed more timely. Christopher Ikier even hit the crossbar, causing anxiety among English fans. Nevertheless, extra time proved too difficult a test for the Norwegians. It was not so much tactical as physical fatigue that allowed the opponent, thanks to the skill of the players, to achieve victory. When Kane's breakthrough into the penalty area failed, another player appeared, like a persistent driver ignoring traffic signs—Jude Bellingham. Morgan Rogers' shot did not require particular complexity, but Haaland saved it directly in front of him, and the midfielder from Real Madrid found himself in the perfect position—2-1.

Norway will undoubtedly contest the bias of the football rules, and they have every right to do so. The incident with Bellingham's first goal, when the ball hit the spider camera above the Norwegian goal and changed its trajectory, will be a topic of discussion online. However, it remains unclear how to reach a compromise that satisfies both experienced Englishmen and worthy Norwegians. The England team plans to continue the fight on July 15th in the semi-finals against the winner of the Argentina - Switzerland pair.