England reached their fourth World Cup semi-final after Jude Bellingham's two goals secured a 2-1 extra-time victory over Norway in Miami. The midfielder equalised in first-half stoppage time and struck again early in the additional period, but the contest was laced with controversy. Norway had a second-half goal by Torbjorn Heggem ruled out after a VAR review for a push by Erling Haaland, and the ball appeared to strike an overhead camera before Bellingham's first goal. In Oslo, the reaction was bitter: Haaland's father, Alf-Inge, posted 'Well done Bellingham and referee' on social media. In draining heat and humidity, Haaland himself was substituted before the end of extra time, exhausted.

The result, however, was overshadowed by a public disagreement between manager Thomas Tuchel and his match-winner. The German coach, while praising the team's spirit, described the performance as 'sloppy' and 'lucky', insisting England had made life difficult for themselves. Bellingham, speaking to reporters, pushed back: 'Maybe he doesn't know what it's like to play in those conditions against Erling Haaland, Martin Odegaard, Antonio Nusa and Alexander Sorloth.' The 23-year-old, who has now scored six goals in the tournament, added that the squad had 'tried to create a positive environment' and that sometimes 'you have to win dirty'.

Captain Harry Kane moved to defuse the tension, acknowledging Tuchel's frustration but stressing that the squad knows 'we have another level we can reach'. The Bayern Munich striker, who has also scored six goals, noted that England have yet to produce a complete performance but that reaching a semi-final was itself a mark of progress for a nation that had lost at this stage in 1990 and 2018. Together, Kane and Bellingham have accounted for 12 of England's 13 goals in the tournament, a dependence that Tuchel himself called 'impressive'.

England now face defending champions Argentina in Atlanta on Wednesday, a fixture that revives memories of past World Cup encounters. The South Americans, led by Lionel Messi, will present a sterner test than a Norway side that had eliminated Brazil in the last 16. For Tuchel, the challenge is to harness the evident resilience while coaxing the more fluent football he demands. The public exchange prompted debate in British media about squad harmony, but Kane's diplomatic tone and Bellingham's on-field decisiveness suggest the focus will shift quickly to the task of reaching a first final since 1966.