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England beat Norway 2-1 AET to reach World Cup semis

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England survived a Norway scare to reach the World Cup semi-finals with a 2-1 extra-time victory, keeping their first final-four run since 1990 alive. Andreas Schjelderup gave Norway a shock lead with a fluke strike, but Jude Bellingham delivered again — equalising with a composed finish before half-time, then poaching the winner in extra-time after Orjan Nyland spilled a routine cross. The Real Madrid midfielder won eight duels, the most of any England player, and now has two goals in a knockout game that looked lost for long stretches.

Harry Kane endured his worst night of the tournament, failing to register a single shot in 90 minutes and touching the ball fewer times than substitute Bukayo Saka managed in 45. Declan Rice was withdrawn at half-time while ill, and England's midfield collapsed without him until Reece James and Morgan Rogers steadied things. Anthony Gordon was England's brightest attacker before his removal for balance, adding a third assist for Bellingham's opener.

The substitutes changed the tie. Saka earned a 7 with two dangerous runs, Rogers pressed intelligently and nearly scored, while Djed Spence injected pace down the left. Elliot Anderson led England with nine ball recoveries — triple anyone else — but was overrun after Rice's exit. Marc Guehi and John Stones limited Erling Haaland to no clear chances, a quiet night for the Norway striker.

England face Argentina or Switzerland in the semi-finals with Kane's form the defining question. Bellingham is carrying the attack, but a tournament this deep demands the captain to score. Southgate's rotation policy left defensive cohesion fragile; the back four looked shaky until the late switch to a five. If Kane doesn't rediscover sharpness, England's best chance since 1966 may hinge entirely on one 21-year-old's sensational summer.