First Half Action
The World Cup 2026 quarter-final match between Norway and England saw both teams displaying moments of intensity. Early in the game, Norway‘s Sorloth attempted to release Erling Haaland, but John Stones intercepted the pass. Soon after, England‘s Madueke was caught offside on the right wing.
England began to press, with Anthony Gordon active on the left. He delivered a low cross that Jude Bellingham nearly connected with inside the penalty area. Later, Gordon earned a corner, but Declan Rice‘s delivery was cleared by the first defender.
Midway through the half, Norway allowed the ball to bounce twice in their area from an O’Reilly cross, but Madueke could not connect. A subsequent cross from O’Reilly was too long, though Madueke recycled the ball and sent a shot-cum-cross through the six-yard box, which was hooked out for a throw by Heggem.
As the half progressed, Norway‘s Martin Odegaard attempted to release Schjelderup, but Konsa covered the play. Ryerson fouled Gordon, leading to a free-kick taken by Rice, whose delivery again failed to beat the first man. Stones gave the ball away under pressure from Norway‘s press, and the ball broke to Haaland, who turned the wrong way, allowing Jordan Pickford to collect.
Ryerson crossed from the right, and Haaland headed the ball directly at Pickford. A significant moment occurred when Kane lost possession to Berg near the centre circle. Schjelderup advanced down the left, cut infield, and hit an outswinging cross that swerved past Pickford, hit the right-hand post, and went in. Kane claimed he was clipped by Berg, but there was little in it.
England seemed unsettled, allowing Sorloth to send a drive over the bar. Odegaard then had an opportunity, but his shot was not clean, though Pickford eventually collected it. Haaland troubled both Guehi and Stones to win a throw. Guehi‘s loose ball in the centre circle was nearly intercepted by Schjelderup, but Rice intervened.
However, a subsequent Norway counter-attack saw Sorloth and Haaland in a two-on-one situation with Stones. Sorloth could not make the pass to release Haaland and his shot was blocked. Bellingham then picked up possession on the edge of the box, took a couple of touches, and whipped a shot across Nyland and into the right-hand side of the net. Moments later, Kane scored from a chip over Nyland, but the flag was raised for offside.
Match Context and Player Performances
This quarter-final match, played in Miami, followed England‘s victory over Mexico, where they handled the heat of the Azteca Stadium despite Jarell Quansah‘s red card. Norway advanced to this stage after defeating Brazil, with Erling Haaland scoring both goals in that match, bringing his tournament total to seven goals.
Commentary during the match highlighted several player performances. Jude Bellingham was noted for having a strong World Cup. John Stones‘ two-on-one defending was also praised. Conversely, Declan Rice‘s performance was questioned, with speculation about whether he had fully recovered from an illness, especially given the heat and humidity.
There was also discussion regarding Schjelderup‘s goal, with some suggesting it looked deliberate rather than a fortunate cross. Guehi‘s attempt to out-muscle Haaland was also mentioned, with a commentator noting Haaland‘s physical presence.
England‘s defensive work has been a point of concern at times, particularly with Haaland‘s goal-scoring ability. The importance of every player performing at their best was emphasized for England to advance to the semi-finals against a strong Norway side.
Looking Ahead
The match was broadcast on ITV 1. Both teams will have frustrations from the first half but also believe they possess the tools to secure a victory. The second half is anticipated to be a significant contest.
The match is scheduled for Saturday, 11 July 2026.
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Source: theguardian.com
Daniel Fairbrother is the Senior Football Correspondent at Latest News UK, covering the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side with over a decade of reporting experience. He spent eight years on the football desk of a Yorkshire daily before moving into national coverage. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from the University of Sunderland and completed an NCTJ diploma. Based in Leeds, he watches non-league football and runs a five-a-side league. “The best football stories are won in the week, not on the whistle.”