England 2-1 Norway: Five key takeaways from FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-final clash

Jude Bellingham has now scored six goals in the FIFA World Cup.

Thomas Tuchel’s England have defeated Norway 2-1 to secure a berth in the semifinals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Andreas Schjelderup scored the first goal of the game, courtesy of an assist from Arsenal midfielder Martin Odegaard. However, Jude Bellingham soon cancelled the lead by scoring in the added time of the first half. With no goals or advancements on the score sheet, the game was forced into extra time.

Real Madrid midfielder Bellingham struck again to help the Three Lions reach the semifinals of the FIFA World Cup for the fourth time. Despite the defeat, Norway’s run in the 2026 FIFA World Cup will forever remain fresh in the hearts of football fans.

On that note, let’s take a look at the five key takeaways from the FIFA World Cup 2026 clash:

5. Andreas Schjelderup scored at the only chance

Andreas Schjelderup earned a start in Ståle Solbakken’s team following his game-deciding performance against Brazil. Coming on in the second half against the five-time champions, Schjelderup assisted Erling Haaland’s brace and helped Norway reach the quarter-finals of the FIFA World Cup for the first time.

Starting against England over Antonio Nusa, he finally scored his maiden FIFA World Cup goal after recording three assists. Schjelderup took only one shot, which turned out to be the goal. Meanwhile, he also had seven defensive contributions, only one less than Norway’s top-performing defender, Julian Ryerson.

4. Nico O’Reilly and what-ifs

Nico O’Reilly remains present in the side’s attack on a majority of occasions, and something similar happened as the Three Lions faced Norway in the quarterfinals of the FIFA World Cup. The Manchester City defender had a 95 per cent passing accuracy and two touches in the opposition box.

However, when it came to scoring, Nico ‘O’Reilly failed to take a shot. Nevertheless, he did a decent job as a defender, but it’s unlikely to see him settle into the position of an inverted fullback. He was subbed out in the 86th minute, and Djed Spence was brought in.

Also Read: Julian Ryerson suffers injury in Norway vs England FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-final

3. Martin Odegaard’s consistency

Norway’s FIFA World Cup campaign had centered on Erling Haaland, who scored a series of goals for the Landslaget. However, Arsenal’s Martin Ødegaard has delivered consistent performances yet has often been overlooked. The former Real Madrid midfielder.

In five games for Norway, he recorded four assists and was one of the most prolific players in the lineup. Martin Odegaard’s high work rate was also a key factor in Ståle Solbakken’s team’s performance, which has been the best in the tournament’s history.

2. Thomas Tuchel’s men do not dominate Norway as expected in the regulation time

Before the game, England were expected to dominate Norway, courtesy of Thomas Tuchel’s high-pressing, pragmatic football. However, Ståle Solbakken’s team came up prepared with a flexible lineup. The Landslaget took more shots on target against the Three Lions after 90 minutes.

Interestingly, the whole Norwegian side was trying their luck while the English defence kept Manchester City attacker Erling Haaland tamed. While Haaland was failing to take shots and utilise goal-scoring opportunities, Andreas Schjelderup and Martin Odegaard came forward. Meanwhile, when the side lost possession, the whole team played as defenders.

1. Jude Bellingham should get his flowers

Jude Bellingham has equalled English football icon Gary Lineker’s record. The Englishman currently has a 12-goal contribution (nine goals and three assists). Since 1966, only Harry Kane and David Beckham have had more goal contributions than Bellingham in the FIFA World Cup for the Three Lions.

Despite Kane leading the charge in the attack for the 1966 champions, Bellingham has the most touches in the opposition box. In addition to that, the Real Madrid midfielder also had five shots on target, the most, while scoring a crucial brace for the Three Lions.

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