England extinguishes Haaland's dream amid controversy (1-2): disallowed goal, spidercam and VAR take centre stage
- England eliminated Norway 1-2 after extra time with a Bellingham brace, but the match was marked by controversial refereeing decisions that will generate debate for weeks
- Goal disallowed for Norway for a very questionable foul by Haaland on a corner where Heggem had scored 2-1, a decision that left justified protests in Oslo
- Bellingham's decisive goal grazed the spidercam cable before the shot, which forced FIFA to issue an official statement in the early morning to justify the validity of the goal
If you went to bed early, you missed absolute madness. England eliminated Norway (1-2 after extra time) in a match that'll be talked about for weeks: a disallowed goal that screams injustice, a ball that touched the spidercam at the crucial moment and even an official FIFA statement in the middle of the night. Modern football, folks.
The match. Norway came out fearless and struck first with a goal from Schjelderup in the first half. England, sluggish, turned to their usual lifeline: Jude Bellingham, who levelled it and took the match to an agonising extra time where he sealed his brace… with a little help from fate, as I'm about to tell you.
Controversy 1: the disallowed Norway goal. At 1-1, Heggem put Norway ahead 2-1 from a corner and the place erupted… until Frenchman Turpin, tipped off by VAR, chalked it off for a foul by Haaland on Elliot Anderson in the corner setup. A foul? Really? I've watched it twenty times and I still can't see it. They must be fuming in Oslo, and they've got every right to be.
Controversy 2: the spidercam. And the decisive goal is straight out of a Netflix script: on the play for 1-2, the ball clipped the overhead camera cable before Bellingham's shot. The Norwegians asked for it to be ruled out, the referee allowed the goal, and FIFA had to issue an official statement in the early hours explaining the decision. When the governing body needs to put out a statement at that time of night, you know something's gone very wrong.
Goodbye Haaland, head held high. The Android departs with 7 goals, one short of Messi for the Golden Boot, having delivered Norway's greatest World Cup ever: a quarterfinal that felt like a robbery. This squad averages 26 years old and they're here to stay. England, meanwhile, continues its habit of winning without playing well… which is actually how you win World Cups, by the way.
What's next. England face Argentina in the semifinal on Wednesday, July 15th in Atlanta. England-Argentina in a World Cup: Maradona, the Hand of God, Beckham, Simeone… you don't need me to remind you of the history. Get the popcorn.
📊 Match stats: lineups, statistics and scoreline · 📰 The other scandal of the night: Argentina-Switzerland · 🇪🇸 Spain already in the semis
Frequently asked questions
How did the Norway-England quarter-final of the 2026 World Cup end?
England beat Norway 2-1 after extra time on 11 July 2026 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. Schjelderup gave Norway the lead and Jude Bellingham scored a brace to secure England's passage to the next round.
Why was Norway's goal against England disallowed?
Referee Clément Turpin, following a VAR review, disallowed Heggem's 2-1 goal for a foul by Haaland on Elliot Anderson during the corner block. The decision sparked huge controversy.
What happened with the spidercam during Bellingham's goal?
During the decisive goal, the ball touched the aerial camera cable (spidercam). The goal was registered on the scoreboard and FIFA issued an official statement defending the referee's decision.
Who does England face in the semi-finals of the 2026 World Cup?
England will play Argentina on Wednesday 15 July at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
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