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Jude Bellingham once again proved to be England’s saviour as the midfielder scored both goals in a 2-1 victory over Norway in Saturday’s World Cup quarter-final. The Three Lions initially trailed but Bellingham levelled the score just before half-time and then struck again early in extra-time to secure a semi-final berth against either Argentina or Switzerland.

England controlled much of the first half but struggled to carve out clear chances in the intense Florida heat. They were punished when Andreas Schjelderup’s cross from the left drifted over Jordan Pickford and clipped the post before crossing the line.

Thomas Tuchel’s team appeared unsettled after conceding, with Alexander Sorloth and Martin Odegaard both missing opportunities to extend Norway’s lead. England eventually found their equaliser in first-half stoppage time when Bellingham latched on to Anthony Gordon’s pass, drove into the penalty area, and fired a precise shot into the bottom corner.

Both Harry Kane and Torbjorn Heggem had goals disallowed on either side of half-time, while Kristoffer Ajer’s looping header struck the crossbar as Norway continued to threaten from set-pieces. However, the score remained level at the end of normal time.

England needed only three minutes of extra-time to go ahead. Morgan Rogers’ effort from the edge of the box was spilled by Orjan Nyland, allowing Bellingham to react fastest and slot home the rebound. Shortly after, Djed Spence thought he had won a penalty, but the decision was overturned following a VAR review.

Spence and Bukayo Saka both forced saves from Nyland early in the second period of extra-time, but England were largely forced onto the back foot. They held their composure defensively to seal a place in the semi-finals.

Below are England’s player ratings from Miami:

Goalkeeper & Defence

Jordan Pickford (4/10): Only he will know why he withdrew his hand from Schjelderup’s cross that ended up in the net. The incident appeared to affect his confidence, and his handling remained shaky in the second half.

Ezri Konsa (6/10): Made a few solid recoveries early on but failed to close down Schjelderup enough for the opener. Offered little attacking threat from right-back yet made a crucial clearance when Berge looked poised to score after the break.

John Stones (5/10): Returned to the starting XI for the first time since the tournament opener and looked rusty. Was caught in possession a few times, gifting Norway half-chances, though he did make some important headed clearances.

Marc Guehi (7/10): Dealt well with the physical challenge from Haaland and showcased his strength. Produced a superb block to deny Nusa in extra-time.

Nico O'Reilly (6/10): Combined effectively with Gordon in attack, but his tendency to drift into midfield left space behind him. Nonetheless, he recovered well to make a couple of vital defensive interventions.

Midfield

Declan Rice (4/10): Having battled illness before the match, he never seemed fully fit and lacked his usual intensity. His set-piece delivery was poor, and he was substituted at half-time.

Elliot Anderson (8/10): Displayed a wide range of passing from midfield and contributed physically. Initiated the move that led to Bellingham’s equaliser.

Jude Bellingham (10/10): A complete performance from a superstar. His first goal typified his dominance—calm, composed, and full of quality. He controlled the tempo throughout, showed dazzling footwork in tight spaces, and reacted quickest to Nyland’s spill for the winner.

Attack

Noni Madueke (4/10): Found himself in promising positions but failed to make the most of them, with his final ball lacking precision. Replaced by Saka at the interval.

Harry Kane (5/10): Gave the ball away cheaply in the build-up to Norway’s opener and was below his usual sharpness in front of goal.

Anthony Gordon (7/10): Delivered a superb assist for Bellingham’s equaliser and looked threatening when running at defenders. His substitution midway through the second half was somewhat surprising.

Substitutes & Manager

Bukayo Saka (7/10): Took time to settle after replacing Madueke, but became increasingly influential with dangerous crosses and lively dribbles.

Eberechi Eze (5/10): Came on for Rice at half-time. Showed neat control but failed to provide a significant attacking spark.

Reece James (6/10): Initially deployed in midfield before switching to right-back, performing reliably in both roles.

Djed Spence (7/10): Nearly scored late in normal time by pressing Nyland and was a persistent threat with his pace. Unlucky that his penalty appeal was overturned by VAR.

Morgan Rogers (6/10): His strike wasn’t cleanly hit but led directly to Bellingham’s decisive goal.

Dan Burn (N/A): Introduced to bolster the defence during the final 10 minutes of extra-time.

Thomas Tuchel (7/10): Starting Madueke and an unfit Rice proved risky, but his in-game decisions were effective. His side could have offered more in attack during the second half, yet his substitutions were astute and adaptable.