The England national team demonstrated the character that distinguishes world champions. On the verge of elimination from the tournament, Thomas Tuchel's squad made an incredible surge to reach the semi-finals of the 2026 World Cup. Jude Bellingham played a decisive role in this turn of events, scoring the winning goal in stoppage time.

Dominance Without Result

The match began under the hosts' control. By the 18th minute, the English controlled the ball 65% of the time, but their attack could not break through the opponent's defense. Despite high possession, Tuchel's team could not convert their advantage into real threats. The Norwegians, in turn, acted calculatedly and nearly made the hosts pay for their passivity.

England's goalkeeper John Stones (Pickford) saved the team twice from Erling Haaland. First, the keeper beat the Norwegian to the ball a moment before the shot, and five minutes later, he confidently took the ball after a powerful header. However, the warning went unnoticed.

Low Blow and Quick Response

In the 36th minute, Norway capitalized on their chance. Selandrup found himself in a shooting position and struck a shot that left the England goalkeeper with no chance. The score became 1-0. The Norwegians could have extended their lead, but the English responded instantly. Towards the end of the first half, Jude Bellingham struck the far corner of the goal, leveling the score at 1-1 at halftime.

The Final Chord

The second half was a tense battle where both teams sought an opportunity to snatch victory. The decisive moment came in the 90+3rd minute. After a long-range shot by Rogers, the Norwegian goalkeeper Nyland reacted but failed to clear Bellingham's follow-up. This goal proved to be the winner.

The Road to the Semi-Finals

The England national team won 2-1 and secured their place in the 2026 World Cup semi-finals. In the next match, Tuchel's charges will face the Argentina team, which defeated Switzerland in a parallel match. The encounter will take place on July 15 at 22:00 Kyiv time.

Interestingly, in the UK, there is already discussion about introducing a public holiday in the event of the national team winning the World Cup. This underscores the scale of expectations and the significance of the tournament for the country.