England beats Norway with two Bellingham goals, winning in extra time to reach the final four

Norway 1-2 England.

It was Jude Bellingham once again.

He scored two goals in the first half against Mexico. And this time, he scored the equalizer and the winning goal in extra time.

Norway took the lead in the 36th minute with a super strike from Andreas Schjelderup. England equalized through Bellingham in first-half stoppage time, and Bellingham scored again in the 93rd minute of extra time.

It was a difficult match. England did not dominate the game by any means.

Even so, they won in the end.

Mental strength. Tenacity. And the ability for the players who need to score to actually do so.

England defeated Norway 2-1 and advanced to the semifinals.

Chapter 1: Starting cautiously, the match gradually heated up

Both teams were cautious at the start.

Norway placed Haaland up front and focused on maintaining defensive spacing rather than forcing a high press. England also held the ball but could not easily penetrate the center.

It was a start typical of a quarterfinal.

If you lose, it's over. That is why neither team could afford to collapse significantly in the first 15 minutes.

However, after the hydration break, the game began to move little by little.

Haaland aimed for the goal with a header. It went straight to Jordan Pickford, but it served as a signal for Norway to push forward.

And then, in the 36th minute.

It was Norway that broke the deadlock.

Chapter 2: 36th minute, Schjelderup's super strike

Andreas Schjelderup received the ball on the left flank.

Normally, this would look like a situation to put in a cross.

However, Schjelderup took aim.

With a trajectory resembling a cross, he fired a shot toward the far post.
The ball flew to a spot beyond Pickford's reach and was sucked into the goal.

Norway takes the lead.

This strike was truly massive.

For Norway, who had advanced after sinking Brazil, it was a goal that made them think, 'We can do it again.' It's not just Haaland. There is also Schjelderup. They can change the game even from the flanks.

From England's perspective, it was an unpleasant goal to concede.

Because they were scored on first, the game turned into a scenario where Norway could solidify their defense while looking for counters.

Chapter 3: Bellingham brought them back before halftime

However, England had Bellingham.

In first-half stoppage time.

Bellingham carried the ball forward with a powerful dribble.
He didn't stop even when pressured by the opponent.
He entered the area in front of the goal and finished calmly.

1-1.

This is incredible.

By equalizing before halftime, England was able to enter the second half in a completely different state of mind.

If they had gone into the break at 0-1, anxiety would have set in.
Norway would have found it easier to defend.
England would have increased their forced attacks.

But, 1-1.

Bellingham's equalizer was not just a single goal.
It was a goal that lifted some of the weight of the match off England's side.

Immediately after that, Harry Kane found the back of the net from a Bellingham through ball, but it was ruled out for offside.

Even so, England managed to regain momentum at the end of the first half.

Chapter 4: Norway continued to threaten from set pieces

In the second half, Norway nearly took the lead once again.

Just before the 60th minute.

It looked as though Torbjørn Heggem had scored from a corner kick sequence.

However, VAR intervened. The goal was disallowed because Haaland was judged to have pushed Elliot Anderson.

It was a painful decision for Norway.

Even so, they did not collapse.

They continued to threaten the England goal, primarily through set pieces. Kristoffer Ajer's shot struck the bar.

This was Norway's strength.

They did not rely solely on Haaland's finishing ability. They utilized their height. They fought for second balls. They pinned the opponent back with set pieces.

They played with such composure that it was hard to believe it was their first quarter-final.

Chapter 5: Extra time, substitute Rogers created the momentum

The match remained undecided after 90 minutes and went into extra time.

From here on, it became a battle of concentration as much as physical stamina.

Immediately after the start of extra time, England made their move.

Substitute Morgan Rogers fired a long-range shot. Goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland parried it away.

This play became the gateway to the winning goal.

A long-range shot is not just a play to shoot from distance.
It forces the goalkeeper to parry.
It delays the defenders' reaction.
It creates a rebound.

Who is there to capitalize on it?

The answer, once again, was Bellingham.

Chapter 6: 93rd minute, Bellingham was there again

93rd minute.

Bellingham reacts faster than anyone else to the rebound parried by Nyland.

This is what makes him amazing.

It wasn't just that the ball came to him by luck.
He read the next play the moment the shot was taken.
He didn't stop in front of the goal, but took a step toward where the rebound would fall.

And then, he calmly slots it home.

England completes the comeback.

Bellingham scored two goals today.
Following the match against Mexico, he has saved the team once again.

The bigger the stage, the more he gets into the box.
The tougher the situation, the more his presence grows.

For the current England team, Bellingham is not just a number 10.
He is a player who finishes the game.

Chapter 7: Norway lost, but their impressive run was the real deal

Norway was defeated.

But what they left behind in this tournament is significant.

Their first quarterfinal.
Defeating Brazil.
Haaland's presence.
Schjelderup's opening goal.
The way they cornered England with set pieces.

It was no mere surprise.

They pushed England to the limit in the quarterfinals as well. There were moments where they nearly took the lead again, and Ajer hit the crossbar.

What was missing was the final detail.

A goal disallowed by VAR. The response to a loose ball right after extra time began. Letting Bellingham move first during the tiring stages of the match.

In the World Cup quarterfinals, that one step makes the difference between winning and losing.

Chapter 8: England is not satisfied with the performance

England won.

However, manager Tuchel is not satisfied with the performance.

I think that is only natural.

They fell behind to Norway and were put in dangerous situations multiple times from set pieces. They were also saved by offside calls and VAR.

But they managed to win.

This is also England's strength.

Even if it is not a good game, they win. Even when it is tough, someone scores. The whole team grinds it out and pushes forward in the end.

As Bellingham said, mental strength and tenacity pushed the team into the final four.

In the semifinals, they will face the winner of Argentina versus Switzerland.

Chapter 9: The step toward a loose ball decides the match

This match was decided by Bellingham's two goals.

But behind that, there is an important perspective.

Why was it important to catch up during the first half?
Why do rebounds from long-range shots become decisive opportunities?
Why are the first five minutes of extra time so dangerous?
Why is Bellingham always in front of the goal?

Soccer is not decided solely by the player who takes the shot.

The player who anticipates what comes next.
The player who reacts to the rebound.
The player who can take one more step forward even when tired.

When you can see those things, the World Cup becomes even more interesting.

The same applies when watching Japan national team matches.

Why are second balls so important?
Why do substitutes change the flow of the game in the final stages?
Why does that one step into the goal area determine victory or defeat?

Having these perspectives allows you to enjoy national team matches more deeply.

▼ Books to support the Japan national team

▼ Reading the tournament through travel, time differences, and heat

▼ Reading tactics in the 48-team era

▼ Watching with AI, VAR, and player data