Norway v England: World Cup 2026 quarter-final reaction – LIVE

Alf-Inge Haaland claims Norway were “robbed” in their World Cup quarter-final but hopes England go on to win the tournament after knocking out his homeland.

The former Leeds midfielder and father of Manchester City striker Erling said Thomas Tuchel’s side were “saved by the referee” in their 2-1 win in Miami.

Norway had a goal by Torbjorn Heggem, which would have put them 2-1 up, ruled out after Erling Haaland pushed over Elliot Anderson at a corner.

In response to a post on X by journalist Henry Winter, Haaland senior wrote: “Saved by the referee. Hope you win the WC now. But feel we got robbed today.”

In an earlier post, referring to Jude Bellingham’s match-winning second goal, he wrote: “Well done Bellingham and referee”.

Haaland senior had earlier been seen on television sticking two fingers up at someone in the crowd after suggesting Djed Spence had dived to win a penalty which was subsequently overturned after a VAR intervention.

“The subs were warriors, they didn’t look like they were new to it,” said Jude Bellingham after the game. It felt like a pointed remark, made by a man who knew the importance of the help he received as he dragged his side into the last four at the World Cup.

Read more from Chris Wilson on England’s bench boys:

After two different perspectives on the Norway game, you could have two different perspectives on this split.

On one hand, Jude Bellingham’s comments might be especially bad timing ahead of what is certain to be an emotionally intense game against Argentina. England are going to have to be all in together, and the spikiness of the match-winner’s post-game interviews needlessly risks that.

Depending on his mood, though, Thomas Tuchel might describe it as a healthy and creative tension.

Given all that emotion, it is at least worth laying out the details.

Read more from Miguel Delaney:

Yakin refused to blame Embolo after Switzerland’s first quarter-final in 72 years ended with Argentina instead booking a date with England in the last four.

He added: “I don’t blame him at all. That would be absurd. Obviously, he is shattered. He couldn’t help the team today and it hurts him and us. I think it was a referee mistake.”

Yakin said: “The VAR and referee, the fact they introduced such a rule is unnecessary and I try to put it in very kind words but I think it is extremely hurtful. We are not going to go to the semi-finals but I think we deserved to be there.

“We were punished for a rule that is completely unacceptable. I don’t understand. It is very painful we are eliminated that way. I don’t think we deserved it and in my opinion our boys are the real heroes.

“The referee makes that one decision that he interfered, it is completely misunderstandable. That is a situation that happened many times previously. He awarded a yellow card. This rule destroyed our game today.

“There was definitely no reason to award that yellow card, I don’t understand it, it was a harmless situation, he should have let the ball freely.”

Embolo was shown a second yellow card when, initially, Leandro Paredes had been cautioned for a challenge on him – only for referee Joao Pinheiro to review the incident and conclude the Switzerland striker had dived.

But Yakin argued it should never have got that far by saying that Paredes should not have been booked for his challenge and that Embolo was left “shattered” by his red card.

“Yeah, probably a bit beyond, to be honest,” he said. “I’m a confident boy, but I don’t think you go to bed at night dreaming about games like that.

“So, it’s nice to have an impact and to help my team. But my God, the effort of those lads in there.

“I’m so proud of how they keep battling, regardless of what situations we find ourselves in.

“They can be really proud, and I know they are. And I’ll make sure they feel that as well.”

Bellingham struck in the second minute of stoppage time in the first half to bring England level after Andreas Schjelderup’s opener for Norway in Miami.

And after Gary Neville described the Real Madrid midfielder as “an absolute star,” following his powerful run and finish for Thomas Tuchel’s side, Ian Wright heaped praise on a key part of the goal.

That’s because Norway goalkeeper Orjan Nyland’s goal kick appeared to touch a cable above the Miami Stadium.

The ball was then dropped into the path of Elliot Anderson, who exchanged a pass with Anthony Gordon, with the ball then fizzed into Bellingham, who dribbled into the penalty area and finished strongly.

England eked out a 2-1 extra-time victory to seal their place in the semi-finals with Jude Bellingham scoring both, first cancelling out Andreas Schjelderup’s opener on the brink of half-time before pouncing on a rebound in the 93rd minute to net the winner.

However, England’s win did not go without controversy, with question marks surrounding their equaliser as well as the chalking off of Norway’s second goal, which might have proved the difference in normal time had it stood.