England to face Argentina in World Cup semi-final after Norway victory

England has secured a position in the World Cup semi-final following a hard-fought victory over Norway on Sunday, July 12. The match, which took place in the stifling heat of Miami, concluded with a 2-1 result in favour of the Three Lions after extra-time. This advancement sets the stage for a highly anticipated semi-final clash against Argentina on Wednesday.

The fixture was not without contention. Norway’s camp expressed significant frustration regarding the officiating, particularly concerning a goal scored by Jude Bellingham. Norway players and staff alleged that the ball struck a wire connected to the stadium's overhead camera system during the lead-up to the equaliser. According to the Mirror, Norway midfielder Sander Berge described the situation as ridiculous, while team captain Martin Odegaard suggested that the margins were not in their favour regarding various decisions throughout the contest. Referee Clement Turpin stated he did not observe the contact, and FIFA officials noted that the ball's internal sensors did not register the incident.

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Following the defeat, Erling Haaland, who was substituted during extra time, confirmed that he would shift his support to England for the remainder of the tournament. Haaland, who has personal ties to the country through his father, Alf-Inge Haaland, mentioned that he maintains friendships with several English squad members. Despite his disappointment, the elder Haaland publicly claimed that the Norwegian side was robbed and argued that the England team had been saved by the referee.

Tensions also simmered within the England camp itself. Following the match, head coach Thomas Tuchel characterized the team's display as sloppy and remarked that they were lucky to progress. This critique was met with a direct rebuttal from Jude Bellingham, who suggested in an interview that the manager did not fully appreciate the difficulty of the playing conditions. This interaction prompted public criticism from former French international Frank Leboeuf, who advised that such disagreements should be kept within the hierarchy of the team rather than addressed in public forums.

Off the pitch, attention has turned to the upcoming meeting with Argentina. The South American side advanced after overcoming Switzerland in their own extra-time quarter-final, a match during which Lionel Messi sustained an injury to his eye and other key players were substituted due to physical exhaustion. Reports from the Mirror indicate that fans have called for a suspension of Argentina striker Lautaro Martinez, citing his decision to jump into the crowd to celebrate a goal while already carrying a yellow card. Furthermore, Switzerland’s Manuel Akanji criticised the officiating in that match, describing it as one-sided and alleging that fouls by the Argentine players went unpunished.

As England prepares for Wednesday's semi-final, interest remains high in the squad’s fitness. There has been minor concern regarding Jude Bellingham, who was observed stretching his shoulder—a site of a previous operation—in the mixed zone following the victory over Norway. Meanwhile, manager Thomas Tuchel has stated that he intends to use the time leading up to the match for player recovery and focused preparation.

Upcoming Schedule

• Tuesday: France vs Spain, 8:00pm BST.
• Wednesday: England vs Argentina, 8:00pm BST.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has confirmed that Donald Trump will be present for the World Cup trophy presentation ceremony.