World Cup 2026: Rate the players in Norway v England
England Secures World Cup Semi-Final Berth
England emerged victorious against Norway in a World Cup quarter-final match held in Miami, winning 2-1 in extra time. The win secured England a spot in the semi-finals of the tournament. Jude Bellingham was a key figure in the match, scoring both goals for England.
The match saw England fall behind before mounting a comeback. Bellingham’s crucial equaliser helped to level the score, preventing Norway from securing an upset in regular time. His performance continued a trend of stepping up in important moments for England throughout the tournament.
This marked Bellingham’s sixth goal contribution in as many games during this World Cup. Notably, a significant portion of his goals for England have been scored in major tournaments, with eight of his eleven international goals coming in such competitions.
Player Performances in the Quarter-Final
Several England players were assessed for their contributions in the demanding quarter-final fixture. Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, who became the most-capped player for England in World Cups, had an uncertain performance, being caught out by Andreas Schjelderup’s cross that led to Norway’s opening goal.
In defence, Ezri Konsa delivered a dependable performance at right-back, showcasing why he is considered an important part of the England squad. While solid defensively, his attacking contributions were noted as less prominent, which is expected given it is not his natural position. Marc Guehi earned praise for effectively managing Erling Haaland, a feat made more impressive as he was reportedly nursing a hamstring issue. John Stones demonstrated strong game reading, making a crucial interception that prevented a potential Haaland chance, though he was also caught on the ball in a difficult area.
Nico O’Reilly, a Manchester City player, has reportedly grown in confidence throughout the tournament. He was tasked with a complex role, operating as a left-back while also providing an attacking option in the left-sided number 10 space when England had possession. He was, however, pinned by Alexander Sorloth at one point, which nearly resulted in a goal for Norway.
Midfielder Elliot Anderson started in a more advanced role, initiating the move that led to England’s first goal. He later shifted to his more familiar number six position after Declan Rice was substituted. Rice, who played as England’s deepest midfielder, was taken off at half-time, with reports suggesting he may have been affected by an illness earlier in the week. His performance was described as not being at 100%.
Wingers Noni Madueke and Anthony Gordon also featured. Madueke had some early opportunities but did not fully capitalize on them, leading to his substitution at half-time. Gordon, conversely, brought energy to the attack despite the challenging conditions and provided the assist for Bellingham’s equaliser. Captain Harry Kane faced a well-organized Norway defence, which limited his space. He had a goal disallowed for offside in the first half and often dropped deep to seek the ball and hold up play.
Substitutions and Tactical Adjustments
Manager Thomas Tuchel made several substitutions to influence the game’s outcome. At half-time, Eberechi Eze and Bukayo Saka were introduced. Eze was brought on to inject creativity into the midfield but was later moved to the left wing. Saka, the Arsenal winger, made an impact by delivering dangerous crosses and executing effective defensive tackles, with his minutes reportedly being managed by Tuchel.
Later in the match, Reece James came on in central midfield as England aimed to maintain possession, before being moved to his natural right-back position. Djed Spence, a Tottenham defender, was introduced to counter the threat of Oscar Bobb and also offered an attacking outlet with his pace. Spence won a penalty in extra time, though it was subsequently overturned by the video assistant referee, and also had a late shot saved.
Morgan Rogers, an Aston Villa forward, entered the game and played a role in Bellingham’s winning goal in extra time, as his shot was spilled into the area. Rogers also contributed to England regaining control of the match. In the final minutes, centre-back Dan Burn was brought on to help England see out the remainder of the game.
Source: bbc.com
