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The loudest cheer of the evening erupted when Jude Bellingham took his final bow. He did not linger – a purposeful sprint off the pitch, a couple of kisses, and a wave to the supporters. That summed up his performance perfectly. Bellingham dictated the tempo, bending the match to his will. He netted two crucial goals and contributed across the board – tackling, passing, dribbling, and rallying his teammates.

England secured a 2-1 victory in extra time. Whereas last week’s triumph at the Azteca was about collective effort, this match belonged to Bellingham and the rest who followed his lead. Yet, manager Thomas Tuchel was far from satisfied. After the game, he criticised the team’s display, calling it technically poor. Nevertheless, England are now in the World Cup semi-finals – and at this stage, outcomes matter more than aesthetics.

Before kick-off, there were murmurs of a possible delay due to the sweltering South Florida heat, and it certainly felt that way. England’s early play mirrored the weather – heavy and sluggish, though they still dominated possession.

Despite England’s control, Norway struck first, albeit fortuitously. Andreas Schjelderup appeared to attempt a cross when his lofted delivery found Erling Haaland at the back post, only to bounce in off the upright after 36 minutes. Bellingham jolted England to life before halftime. Anthony Gordon played the ball inside, Bellingham controlled it, drove forward, and slotted it into the bottom corner with his weaker foot. England nearly took the lead when Bellingham slipped Harry Kane through, but the captain’s delicate chip was ruled offside.

Norway started the second half on the front foot and thought they had doubled their lead when Torbjorn Heggem fired into the roof of the net from a corner, only for VAR to disallow it after Haaland was judged to have fouled Elliot Anderson. Later, Kristoffer Ajer’s header rattled the bar. England had their moments too, notably when Bukayo Saka’s teasing cross went untouched, but extra time loomed.

England struck early in extra time. Morgan Rogers’s low drive was spilled by the goalkeeper, and while three Norwegian defenders hesitated, Bellingham reacted first, slotting home the rebound. From there, England defended resolutely. Dan Burn cleared multiple headers, and Jordan Pickford remained untested. Tuchel may have had his complaints, but England marched into the semi-finals.

GOAL analyses the winners and losers from Miami Stadium as England battled through to set up a mouth-watering semi-final with Argentina in Atlanta on Wednesday.

WINNER: Jude Bellingham

How often does this story repeat itself? Bellingham continues to rescue England – against Croatia, Panama, Mexico, and now Norway. He drifted in and out early on, struggling for space, but when the moment came, he seized it. Gordon found him in space, and Bellingham powered forward in a straight line before finishing confidently with his left foot. He even set up Kane for a chance before halftime. After the break, he dropped deeper as Declan Rice went off and Eberechi Eze came on, shifting Bellingham from No.10 to No.8, where he continued to impress.

Bellingham’s second act arrived in extra time. Rogers’s shot was parried, and Bellingham instinctively pounced. He has now become the second-youngest player to score twice in consecutive World Cup knockout matches – the youngest being Pele. Even Tuchel, normally stern, acknowledged the magic: “Put Harry and Jude together and they will do the rest.”

LOSER: Erling Haaland

This was billed as the Haaland versus Kane showdown, but it failed to deliver. While both were quiet, Haaland looked especially subdued. England contained him superbly – just 21 touches, only five inside the box. He managed two half-chances, one saved, one wide, and never threatened on the counter. He might have had a tap-in had Alexander Sorloth squared the ball instead of taking it on himself. England’s defenders deserve credit, particularly John Stones, who completed all 120 minutes, and Marc Guehi. Haaland was substituted midway through extra time, ending a streak of 14 straight games with a goal. His World Cup debut run was promising, but he vanished here.

Tuchel praised his defenders: “We were very, very good today in central defence. They worked on Haaland nonstop... they were physical, brave, and strong throughout.”

WINNER: Elliot Anderson

Anderson has quietly impressed at this World Cup. A clear favourite of Tuchel, he has been a constant presence in midfield, providing balance and structure. Though occasionally his spacing and passing choices seem conservative, his influence is undeniable. Some even compare him to Jordan Henderson – not a bad likeness, though Anderson is seen as more progressive. Valued at over £100 million, he finally showcased his worth here.

With Rice replaced at halftime and Eze introduced, the midfield dynamic shifted. Anderson, often operating alone at the base, held firm. As the game grew chaotic, the new Manchester City signing stayed composed. He completed the second-most passes, delivered the second-most forward passes, and made more defensive recoveries than any other player. He also initiated the move that led to England’s equaliser – a complete midfield display when it mattered most.

LOSER: Orjan Nyland

From hero to heartache – Nyland’s story turned sharply. Against Brazil, he was outstanding, making multiple key saves and stopping a penalty to help Norway progress. But against England, one costly error defined his night. Rogers’s 93rd-minute strike was fierce, but Nyland failed to collect it cleanly, spilling it directly to Bellingham, who punished him ruthlessly. That moment sealed Norway’s fate. At full-time, Nyland was visibly distraught, comforted by teammates – a sad end to an impressive personal tournament.

WINNER: Thomas Tuchel

It’s somewhat amusing that Tuchel could not enjoy the victory. His standards remain sky-high, but England have now reached their fourth World Cup semi-final – only their second in 36 years. His post-match criticisms – that England were sloppy, slow, and technically lacking – are valid, yet his in-game management proved decisive. “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 said.

On a tough Miami night, he adjusted effectively. His substitutions were timely and impactful. Rice, drained by illness, came off at halftime, allowing Eze to influence proceedings. Bukayo Saka replaced an out-of-sync Noni Madueke and improved the attack. Reece James, Djed Spence, Morgan Rogers, and Dan Burn all contributed significantly. It was a gritty, collective effort – perhaps not Tuchel’s ideal style, but a demonstration of adaptability and resolve. Whether this will carry England to the ultimate prize remains to be seen, but Tuchel is coaching them to win – and that 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 added.

LOSER: Declan Rice

Tuchel later explained that withdrawing Rice was a strategic decision. The midfielder had been unwell for several days and lacked full fitness, making it unlikely he could last 90 minutes in the heat. “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 said.

Rice looked off the pace in his 45 minutes, fatigued and short of sharpness. Even his set-piece delivery lacked its usual precision. Fortunately for England, others stepped up. Tuchel will hope Rice recovers in time for the semi-final clash with Argentina on Wednesday.