Jude Bellingham Strikes Again as England Grind Past Norway to Reach FIFA World Cup Semi-Finals

Heartbreak wore a Norwegian shirt on this night, while England's captain lay motionless on the turf long after the final whistle, exhaustion etched into every player's face.

Jude Bellingham struck a dramatic extra-time winner to send England through to the semi-finals of the 2026 World Cup, ending Norway's brave campaign in a contest that swung on fine margins and one costly error.

Andreas Schjelderup had put Norway ahead, and the visitors looked the stronger side for large stretches, even having a second goal chalked off by VAR for an Erling Haaland foul.

Bellingham pulled England level with a moment of individual brilliance, though replays showed the ball had struck the Spidercam during the buildup, a slice of luck England were not about to question.

The decisive moment arrived early in extra time. A blunder from Norway goalkeeper Nyland opened the door, and Bellingham did not need a second invitation, sliding home the winner with the composure that has now become his trademark on the biggest stage.

The celebrations were laced with raw emotion. Nyland stood inconsolable, the weight of his mistake plain on his face.

At the other end, Harry Kane sank to the ground, his face buried in the turf for several minutes after the whistle. Haaland, gracious in defeat, embraced both Kane and Bellingham.

Manager Thomas Tuchel blew kisses to the England fans in the stands.

“Where do we start? The huge disappointment again of going behind, but this England team are made of hard stuff. When they had to suffer in the second half, when they were up against it and under pressure, they somehow found a way again. It's no surprise that that man Jude Bellingham came to England's rescue once again,” said Alan Shearer, former England striker and BBC Sport pundit.

The win extends England's current World Cup streak to four consecutive victories, their best run since the six-match sequence that stretched from 16th July 1966 to 2nd June 1970.

“It was a battle that could have gone either way. Norway looked a smoother outfit in the last 20 minutes of normal time, but extra time started and England had a bit more about them. A mistake has been the difference in the game. Bellingham is onto that ball in a flash. It is top-class anticipation of a mistake,” said Matt Upson, former England defender on BBC Radio 5 Live.

England now stand in the World Cup semi-finals for the fourth time in their history, a landmark reached despite a performance short on polish. Norway, meanwhile, exit the tournament after a historic run that few had predicted at the start.

Waiting in Atlanta on Wednesday night will be either Argentina or Switzerland. For England, the result mattered far more than the performance, and the Three Lions will not be losing any sleep over how it looked.

(With inputs from ANI)