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The loudest cheer of the night came as Jude Bellingham made his exit. He needed little time to leave his mark. Even his purposeful jog off the pitch — a few kisses blown and a wave to the fans — mirrored the energy of his performance. Bellingham had seized control of the match, shaping it by sheer force of will. He scored two decisive goals and contributed in every phase — tackling, passing, dribbling, and leading vocally.

England triumphed 2-1 after extra time. While last week’s victory at the Azteca Stadium had been a collective effort of commitment and teamwork, this one was largely down to Bellingham’s brilliance. Yet, manager Thomas Tuchel was far from satisfied. He criticised the display as lacking technical quality and fluidity. Perhaps he was right, but with England now into a World Cup semi-final, the outcome is what truly counts.

Before kick-off, there were murmurs that the game could be postponed due to the oppressive South Florida heat — and the conditions indeed took a toll. England dominated possession early but struggled to inject any tempo or incisiveness into their passing.

Then, somewhat against the run of play, Norway took the lead. Andreas Schjelderup’s looping ball to the far post seemed intended as a cross but instead ricocheted off the upright and in after 36 minutes, catching even Erling Haaland by surprise. Bellingham provided England’s response before halftime. Anthony Gordon cut inside and found him; Bellingham controlled, surged forward, and calmly slotted in with his weaker foot. He could have turned provider moments later, threading Harry Kane through, but the England captain strayed marginally offside and saw his chip disallowed.

Norway came out aggressively after the break and briefly thought they had restored their lead when Torbjorn Heggem found the net from a corner, only for VAR to rule it out after Haaland was judged to have fouled Elliot Anderson. Kristoffer Ajer then rattled the crossbar with a header after 75 minutes. England had chances late in normal time, most notably from Bukayo Saka’s teasing cross that went untouched, but the deadlock persisted into extra time.

England struck early in the additional period. Morgan Rogers’ drive was parried by the Norwegian keeper, and while defenders hesitated, Bellingham reacted quickest to tuck home the rebound. From there, it was about holding firm — something this England side has learned to relish. Dan Burn cleared multiple crosses, and goalkeeper Jordan Pickford remained untroubled. Despite Tuchel’s post-match complaints, England marched into the semi-finals.

GOAL analyses the standout performers and disappointments from Miami Stadium as England grit their way to a thrilling semi-final clash against Argentina in Atlanta on Wednesday.

WINNER: Jude Bellingham

How often have we seen this story? Once again, Bellingham came to England’s rescue — just as he did against Croatia, Panama, and Mexico. In the first half, he struggled to find space, occasionally drifting in and out of the action. Then came his moment: Gordon picked him out in a rare pocket of space, and Bellingham drove directly at goal, finishing clinically with his left foot before quickly retrieving the ball and urging his team on. Before the interval, he nearly turned provider again for Kane.

After halftime, operating in a deeper role following Declan Rice’s substitution for Eberechi Eze, Bellingham adapted effectively. Then came his second act in extra time — pure instinct. Rogers’ shot spilled loose, and Bellingham was there to pounce. He is now the second-youngest player ever to score twice in consecutive World Cup knockout matches, following a certain teenager named Pele. Even Tuchel, despite his dour mood, summed it up neatly: “Put Harry and Jude together and they will do the rest.”

LOSER: Erling Haaland

This match was billed as the Haaland versus Kane showdown, but it never quite materialised. Both strikers were subdued, though Haaland’s quiet display stood out more. England’s defence neutralised him superbly — he managed only 21 touches, five of which came inside the box, and produced two half-chances that failed to trouble Pickford. His best opportunity might have come when Alexander Sorloth chose to go solo instead of squaring to him, squandering the moment. Haaland’s 14-match scoring streak came to an end, marking a muted close to what had been an impressive debut World Cup campaign. Still, he will surely return stronger.

Tuchel praised his defenders’ effort, saying, “We were very, very good today in central defence. They worked on Haaland nonstop... they were physical, they were brave, they were very, very strong the full match.”

WINNER: Elliot Anderson

Anderson has progressed steadily through this tournament and remains one of Tuchel’s trusted lieutenants. The manager views him as the crucial link in midfield — the player who binds the team’s structure. Though still refining his role, Anderson demonstrated his worth here. When Rice made way for Eze at halftime, the midfield dynamic shifted, and Anderson often found himself as the lone anchor. He rose to the occasion with poise, completing the second-most passes and forward passes of any player while leading in defensive recoveries. He also initiated the sequence that led to England’s equaliser — a true all-round display when composure was most needed.

LOSER: Orjan Nyland

From hero to heartache — a cruel twist for the Norwegian goalkeeper. Nyland had been superb against Brazil, pulling off a string of saves including a penalty stop to help his side advance. Against England, however, one lapse proved fatal. In the 93rd minute, he parried Rogers’ venomous shot but failed to hold it, leaving Bellingham an easy rebound finish. That single error decided the contest. The distraught keeper was consoled by teammates after full-time — a painful end to an otherwise respectable campaign.

WINNER: Thomas Tuchel

It’s almost comedic that Tuchel remains unsatisfied. His tactical demands are sky-high, and he expects precision from his players. Yet, England have now reached just their fourth World Cup semi-final — and only their second in 36 years. His post-match critique — that the team were sloppy, slow in possession, and lacked technical sharpness — was fair enough. “I am a football coach. I think we can play better. It was not a high-level game in general. The football coach in me still thinks we can and have to play better football,” Tuchel remarked.

Still, when his players struggled under the Miami heat, Tuchel showed his adaptability with timely substitutions. Rice, clearly fatigued, made way for Eze, who became instrumental in extra time. Saka replaced Noni Madueke to add energy and creativity, while Reece James, Djed Spence, Morgan Rogers, and Dan Burn all contributed. It wasn’t pretty, but it was effective — a gritty win shaped by Tuchel’s in-game management. Whether this version of England is his ideal vision remains to be seen, but his leadership is guiding them to victories, and that’s what counts. “These are moments to fully enjoy. I am very proud of the players and impressed with the mentality. So full credit to them,” Tuchel said.

LOSER: Declan Rice

Tuchel explained after the match that Rice’s early withdrawal was pre-planned. The midfielder had been bedridden for much of the previous three days and was unlikely to last the full match, especially in the oppressive conditions. “We put in [Eze] and [Saka] at the right wing, which meant we had to take [Anderson] or [Rice] out… I knew that he could not survive 90 minutes, and there was a possibility it could have gone 120. So, I didn’t want to waste another chance, so the decision was to take off Rice earlier than we needed to to save another change down the line,” Tuchel explained.

Rice struggled through his 45 minutes, looking drained and off his usual pace. Even his typically sharp set-pieces misfired, failing to clear the first defender. Fortunately for England, his teammates compensated. Tuchel will hope his midfield enforcer is back to full strength by Wednesday’s semi-final.