Jude Bellingham scored twice as England beat Norway 2-1, and David Beckham kids were part of the wider match-day frame around a result that sent England into the World Cup semi-final. The decisive goals came in the first half and extra time, turning a match that Norway had controlled early into England's route to the last four.
Bellingham's two-goal swing
Two goals from Bellingham changed the game for England. He scored once in the first half and again in extra time, giving England the 2-1 comeback that secured their place in the World Cup semi-final against Argentina or Switzerland on One.
Wayne Rooney said England lacked quality and speed and tempo, but also that Bellingham stepped up when England needed him most. Ellen White went further, saying England are constantly relying on one player to get them out of a tricky spot, even as she noted that Bellingham turned the match on its head after Norway's first-half momentum.
Tuchel's mixed verdict
Thomas Tuchel gave the result its due while cutting straight through the performance. He said England made life very, very difficult for themselves, called the result fantastic, and added that he was not happy with the performance. He also said the commitment was there, but the play was sloppy, full of technical mistakes, not fast enough and not repetitive enough.
Tuchel singled out Reece James as excellent and said Morgan Rogers was fantastic today. He added that Eberechi Eze and Djed Spence grew into the game, then summed up Bellingham in one line: enough said, he does it every single match, world class. That leaves England with the result they needed, and a clear performance problem they cannot ignore in the last four.
Last four, three days
England now have three days before the next step, and Tuchel said the team will need everything. For readers tracking the tournament path, the practical point is simple: the win has changed England's position in the World Cup, but the level of control they showed for long stretches still puts pressure on the performance against Argentina or Switzerland.
