England secured a 2-1 victory over Norway in a hard-fought FIFA World Cup quarter-final match at Hard Rock Stadium, ending Norway’s historic run in the tournament. The match, which went into extra time, saw England become the first team in a significant period to prevent Erling Haaland from scoring in a competitive international fixture.
This result marks the first time in 636 days that Haaland has been kept off the scoresheet in such a match. The last team to achieve this was Austria in October 2024. Between these two dates, Haaland had been a prolific scorer for Norway, arriving at the World Cup with seven goals in five matches. His performance included braces against Brazil, Switzerland, and Japan, guiding Norway to their first-ever World Cup quarter-final appearance.
Controversial Decisions and Norway’s Exit
The match was not without controversy, leading to criticism from Haaland’s father, Alf-Inge Haaland, regarding the officiating. Following the final whistle, Alf-Inge Haaland publicly criticised both Jude Bellingham and the referee on social media, highlighting Norway’s grievances with two key decisions during the game.
One contentious moment occurred when England’s equaliser in first-half stoppage time came after a goal-kick. Norway protested, believing the ball had brushed an overhead camera cable before falling into England’s possession. However, FIFA later released a statement indicating that technology showed no contact, as the sensor in the Connected Ball registered no change in its movement.
Further frustration for Norway arose in the 55th minute when Torbjorn Heggem‘s goal from a corner was disallowed after a VAR review. Officials ruled that Erling Haaland had fouled Elliot Anderson before the corner kick was taken. These decisions became major talking points after Norway’s exit from the tournament.
England’s defensive unit played a crucial role in silencing Haaland. Jordan Pickford made a point-blank save against Haaland in the first half, keeping England in the game when Norway led 1-0 through Andreas Schjelderup‘s 36th-minute strike. Defenders Marc Guehi and John Stones effectively marked Haaland, denying him space and clear opportunities throughout the 120 minutes of play.
England’s Progression and Haaland’s Tournament
Jude Bellingham scored twice for England, including the extra-time winner, to secure their place in the semi-finals. Schjelderup had initially put Norway ahead with a powerful left-footed strike after Harry Kane lost possession. Bellingham responded before the break, finishing after receiving a pass from Anthony Gordon. Bellingham’s decisive goal came three minutes into extra time, capitalising on a long-range effort from Morgan Rogers that slipped through the grasp of goalkeeper Orjan Nyland.
Erling Haaland was substituted midway through extra time for Jorgen Strand Larsen, a moment that signalled the end of Norway’s challenge. This substitution also brought an end to Haaland’s impressive streak of scoring in 14 consecutive competitive international appearances. He concluded the 2026 World Cup with seven goals in six matches, a remarkable individual performance that saw him win the Golden Boot race for Norway.
England’s victory means they advance to only their fourth World Cup semi-final, and their second in the last three editions of the tournament. Thomas Tuchel‘s side will now prepare to face the winners of the match between Argentina and Switzerland for a spot in the final.
Alf-Inge Haaland, who had a distinguished playing career with clubs like Nottingham Forest, Leeds United, and Manchester City, also represented Norway in 34 international caps, including the 1994 FIFA World Cup.
Read Also
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
