The semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup 26™ are set, with the tournaments highest-ranked teams completing the final four.
England needed extra-time to overcome a spirited Norway side in Miami, whilst Argentina and Switzerland also went the full 120 minutes, with the defending champions finally making the most of a man advantage.
Quarter-finals
Norway 1 England 2
Two goals from Jude Bellingham saw England come from behind to defeat Norway and advance to the semi-finals for just the fourth time in the nation’s history.
The Norwegians enjoyed most of the running in the opening period and took a deserved lead when Andreas Schjelderup’s cross from the left-hand side evaded a despairing Jordan Pickford and thudded in off the far post.
Ståle Solbakken’s side continued to impress and gave England very little in the way of chances. That was until the final minutes of the half, when Jude Bellingham controlled excellently in the area, drifting clear of his marker and rifling an effort past Ørjan Håskjold Nyland to level the score.
Norway were unlucky not to retake the lead early in the second-half. Torbjørn Heggem finished smartly at the far post following a corner, but a VAR check harshly deemed Erling Haaland to have fouled Elliot Anderson before the set piece was taken.
Neither side could find a way through for the remainder of the 90 minutes, sending the affair to extra-time.
Only three minutes of the additional thirty was required for England to take the lead for the first time. Morgan Rogers effort was spilled by Nyland, with Bellingham reacting quickest to bury the rebound.
England though they had a penalty just minutes later, when Djed Spence was upended in the area, but referee Clement Turpin was sent to the VAR monitor and quickly established Spence had initiated the contact himself.
Norway struggled to regain momentum, with Pickford largely untroubled as England held on to book a semi-final place.
Argentina 3 Switzerland 1
Argentina will face England in the semi-finals next week, after they eventually saw off a determined Switzerland side after extra-time.
The World Cup holders were given the perfect start when Alexis Mac Allister headed in after just 10 minutes to put his side in front.
It was to prove something of a false dawn however, as the game slowed to crawling pace for most of the opening half, with Argentina unable to add to their lead and Switzerland offering little in attack.
The half-time break brought an uptick in the intensity however and it was the Swiss that would make the most of it. Nottingham Forest’s Dan Ndoye played a neat one-two with full-back Ricardo Rodriguez, before slotting underneath Emiliano Martinez to make it 1-1 after 67 minutes.
Moments later however and the game’s decisive turning point arrived. Breel Embolo seemed to have been tripped by Leandro Paredes, with the midfielder given a yellow card. A VAR check however determined Embolo had dived and, having already been booked, was shown a second yellow card to leave Murat Yakin’s side a man down.
Argentina worked hard to make their man advantage count in the 90 minutes, but Switzerland held firm to force extra-time. That resolve continued, with the defending champions unable to find a way through in the first period of extra-time.
Just eight minutes were left when Argentina finally found the breakthrough. Julian Alvarez cutting in from the left and arrowing a pin-point effort into the far top corner, beating Gregor Kobel to make it 2-1.
Switzerland were left to try and turn the tide once again, but were ultimately picked off on the counter-attack, with Lautaro Martinez adding a third with little time left on the clock.
Dreams of back-to-back titles remain for Argentina, who can prepare for a blockbuster clash with England in the semi-finals in Atlanta next week.
Discussion about this post