By Opta Analyst | Created at 2026-07-18 17:28:13 | Updated at 2026-08-02 22:43:37
3 weeks ago
England haven’t been entirely convincing despite reaching the 2026 World Cup semi-finals, but in Jude Bellingham they have a player capable of tipping the scales, as he proved again.
Harry Kane, or Erling Haaland. Erling Haaland, or Harry Kane. The build-up to the World Cup quarter-final between Norway and England was dominated by discourse pitting two of the globe’s greatest centre-forwards against each other.
Harry Kane, or Erling Haaland. Erling Haaland, or Harry Kane. One of them would surely be decisive in their respective teams’ quest to reach the World Cup semi-finals.
The billing was titanic, helped by the furore that Haaland in particular has inspired this summer, with the Manchester City star proving an engaging and likable figure for audiences in North America.
Yet, as Kane and Haaland were kept quiet in the Miami heat, it was someone else who took centre stage as England scraped through an attritional contest 2-1 after extra-time.
Of course, anyone who’s actually watched England over the past few years knows there’s more to them than just Kane, even when they’ve been unimpressive as a collective – in fact, arguably in those instances especially.
Jude Bellingham has become England’s other go-to man in moments of desperation, and on Saturday night – into Sunday morning – it was the Real Madrid midfielder who got England over the line.
His two goals on the night took him to seven in World Cup games for England, with only Kylian Mbappé (12) managing more at the tournament while aged 23 or younger. Having also played a vital role en route to the Three Lions reaching the Euro 2024 final, Bellingham is reaching a level of importance few England players have ever enjoyed.
But as alluded to, England weren’t exactly free-flowing, exciting or inventive at Miami Stadium. For the most part, Norway looked to carry the greater threat; granted, to a marginal degree perhaps, but the Three Lions looked tame for long periods.
This is an England team who’ve become associated with, and reliant on, moments rather than subjugation of opponents, though. When you can call upon players like Bellingham, that can be all you need; he’s been their man of “the moment”.
In a way, Bellingham was actually fairly quiet against Norway. But he came alive when England needed him to.
On the stroke of half-time, with England staring at the prospect of going into the break trailing, he charged forward in support of Anthony Gordon and brilliantly latched on to the winger’s infield pass; his first touch brought the ball under his spell expertly and allowed him to seamlessly burst into the box, before firing left-footed into the bottom-right corner having held off his marker.
Out came that celebration, standing tall, chest puffed out and arms outstretched to his sides. Arrogant? Perhaps, but it’s well-placed and justified when it comes to Bellingham, who’d no doubt noticed Andreas Schjelderup celebrate in a similar manner after scoring his rather flukey opener.
That took Bellingham to five goals at the 2026 World Cup, a highly commendable total for anyone, let alone a midfielder, and reflected just how crucial he has been to an England side who’ve not exactly blown opposition away this summer.
In fact, their general performance in this encounter rather summed up their displays at the 2026 World Cup. They had to scrap, battle and fight for their success; players were forced to play out of position or while contending with illness or fitness issues. There were undoubtedly times when England’s progress to a fourth World Cup semi-final looked anything but likely.
But what England have lacked from a quality perspective they’ve more than made up for with their spirit and doggedness, and at no point was that more evident or more crucial than with Bellingham’s extra-time winner.
Morgan Rogers let fly from distance in a positive show of purpose that had often been missing from England’s display. And while Ørjan Nyland got behind it, the Aston Villa midfielder’s effort had too much power on it; all the goalkeeper could do was push it back into the danger zone and there Bellingham was there to steer home.
“Who else?” Bellingham infamously shouted after sparing England’s blushes at Euro 2024. Who else, indeed.
Bellingham now sat on six goals at this tournament, none of which have come from the spot, making it the joint-most non-penalty goals scored by an England player at a single World Cup.
Having also netted twice against Mexico, Bellingham also became the first player to net successive braces in World Cup knockout games since Diego Maradona in 1986; he famously led Argentina to glory. Bellingham will hope to emulate that feat.
There’s obviously still a fair way to go in that respect, but Bellingham has taken on the role as that kind of talismanic figure. England needed a moment, and he was there yet again.
Ahead for the first time, they suddenly had something to hold onto and Norway were left with no option but to chase the game.
Haaland’s withdrawal – presumably with an injury – halfway through extra-time undoubtedly played into England’s hands. But having put out fires and seen off the intense threat of Mexico at the Azteca in the last 16, a backs-to-the-wall job for the final 15 minutes in Miami resembled an almost reassuringly familiar scenario for England.
There are still many questions to ask about England. Can they really – as Tuchel insists – play better than this? Have they merely been lucky to get this far? Will moments be enough for them to end 60 years of hurt?
The jury’s still out on Tuchel’s England, but as long as Bellingham’s there and in this form, nothing is beyond them.
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