England and Argentina Complete World Cup Semifinal Lineup After Dramatic Quarterfinal Day
Bellingham scores twice as England edges Norway 2-1 in extra time; Alvarez stunner leads Argentina past 10-man Switzerland 3-1 to set up blockbuster semifinals.
The World Cup semifinals are set, and they promise to deliver the most electrifying matchups of the tournament. England and Argentina punched their tickets to the final four on Saturday, completing a star-studded semifinal bracket that features four of the world's top footballing nations battling for glory on American soil.
Bellingham's Brilliance Edges Out Haaland's Norway
In Miami, the clash between England's Harry Kane and Norway's Erling Haaland that fans had dreamed of was ultimately decided by a different superstar entirely. Jude Bellingham, the 23-year-old Real Madrid midfielder, scored both goals as England came from behind to beat Norway 2-1 after extra time.
Norway drew first blood through Andreas Schjelderup in the 36th minute, silencing the pro-England crowd at Miami Stadium. But Bellingham equalized deep into first-half stoppage time with a trademark sliding finish, capitalizing on a defensive mix-up.
The match appeared destined for penalties until the 93rd minute, when Bellingham struck again. The winner came after a controversial sequence that saw Norway's goal kick hit the Skycam cable, giving England possession in a dangerous area. Bellingham pounced on the chaos with another full-body sliding finish that will be replayed for years.
"It wasn't pretty, but we found a way," England manager Lee Carsley said afterward. "Jude has ice in his veins. The bigger the moment, the better he plays."
Argentina Survives Swiss Scare
In Kansas City, Argentina extended their remarkable World Cup winning streak but needed extra time to do it. The defending champions survived a determined Swiss side 3-1, with Julian Alvarez producing a stunning strike in the 112th minute to break the deadlock.
Alexis Mac Allister gave Argentina an early lead in the 10th minute, heading home a pinpoint Lionel Messi corner. The goal marked Messi's tournament-leading ninth assist and extended Argentina's streak of scoring in 15 consecutive World Cup matches.
But Switzerland refused to fold. Dan Ndoye equalized in the 67th minute with a powerful header of his own. Three minutes later, Swiss forward Breel Embolo was sent off for simulation after receiving his second yellow card, a controversial decision that left the Swiss playing with 10 men for the final 50 minutes of the contest.
Despite the numerical advantage, Argentina couldn't find a winner until Alvarez unleashed a rocket from 25 yards that bent into the top corner. Lautaro Martinez added insurance in the 120th minute to seal a 3-1 victory.
The Dream Semifinals Await
The results set up a tantalizing semifinal slate. France, who beat Morocco 2-0 on Thursday, will face Spain, who edged Belgium 2-1 courtesy of a late Mikel Merino strike. That match takes place Monday, July 14, at MetLife Stadium.
On Tuesday, July 15, England faces Argentina in what many are already calling the tournament's true final. The Three Lions will seek redemption for their 1986 World Cup quarterfinal loss, when Diego Maradona's "Hand of God" goal haunted a generation of English footballers.
The winners will meet in the final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. With Messi potentially playing his final World Cup and England still chasing their first major trophy since 1966, the stakes could not be higher.