England quartet reach semi-final as Haaland’s Norway exit

Marc Guéhi, Nico O’Reilly, Elliot Anderson and James Trafford are through to the semi-finals of the World Cup with Erling Haaland exiting after England defeated Norway 2-1 after extra-time.

The Three Lions came from a goal behind with Andreas Schjelderup opening the scoring for Norway before a brace from Jude Bellingham earned progress for Thomas Tuchel’s men.

Guéhi and Anderson played the full 120 minutes, O’Reilly put in a shift before being substituted on 86 minutes, Trafford was an unused substitute while Haaland was withdrawn in extra-time by Ståle Solbakken.

In a nervy contest, Harry Kane felt he’d been fouled in the build-up to the first goal but the referee waved play-on as the ball found its way to Schjelderup on the left flank.

The Benfica winger pinged it into the top corner with everyone thinking he’d be crossing for Haaland in the box.

With the clock ticking down in the opening period, Bellingham levelled matters. Anderson found Anthony Gordon who played in the Real Madrid midfielder. Bellingham took one touch before firing home with his left foot.

The Three Lions thought they’d turned the game on its head just before the whistle as Kane dinked home after a beautiful Bellingham pass but the Bayern Munich striker had gone too early and was flagged offside.

Norway believed they were ahead after the restart, former West Brom defender Torbjørn Heggem firing home at the back post.

But the goal was disallowed by referee Clement Turpin due to Haaland pushing over new Blue teammate Anderson in the build-up.

Brentford defender Kristoffer Ajer headed against the bar as England rode their luck while Tuchel’s side nearly won it late on when first Bellingham glanced a header just off target and then substitute Djed Spence charged down goalkeeper Ørjan Nyland only for the ball to ricochet wide of the goal.

It went to extra time and the Three Lions were soon in front, as Aston Villa forward Morgan Rogers‘s shot was fumbled by Nyland with Bellingham on hand to poke home.

England thought they’d have a chance to go further ahead when Spence seemed to have been felled by former City winger Oscar Bobb but referee Turpin overturned his original decision after a VAR review.

In the second period of extra time, Spence and Bukayo Saka both had shots well saved by Nyland while Bobb fired high and handsome as Tuchel’s men held on to progress.

Haaland may have been eliminated but his side have enjoyed their deepest run ever at a World Cup.

They have made it to four tournaments in total – in 1938, 1994, 1998 and 2026 – with elimination at Round of 16 in 1938 and 1998 with a group stage exit the last time the competition was held in the States in 1994.

England will now face either Argentina or Switzerland in the last four on Wednesday with a 20:00 (UK) start in Atlanta.

On the other side of the draw, Rayan Cherki‘s France take on Rodri‘s Spain in a mouthwatering tie on Tuesday in Arlington, kick-off 20:00 (UK).