Schjelderup's first-half opener, Bellingham's answer on the stroke of halftime — and then, three minutes into extra time, Alexander Sorloth crashed in the rebound from Haaland's drive. Norway's first World Cup semi-final is real, and it is Argentina on Wednesday.
MIAMI GARDENS — The tallest man on the pitch settled the longest night in Norwegian football. When Haaland's low drive was pushed out by the England keeper three minutes into extra time, Alexander Sorloth arrived like a freight train and buried the rebound high into the roof of the net. Hard Rock Stadium, painted red and white behind the goal, simply came apart.
It had begun as the young tournament's dream script: Andreas Schjelderup, 22, cutting in off the left on 36 and finishing with the composure of a veteran. England's response was immediate and familiar — Jude Bellingham, their best player all month, arriving at the top of the box on the stroke of halftime. His sixth goal of the tournament; the away end believed the pattern would hold.
It did not, because this Norway side does not follow patterns. Nyland — the man whose penalty save eliminated Brazil — clawed away everything England produced for an hour, and Sorloth, quiet through regulation, chose the only minute that mattered. 'We have waited since 1938 for nights like these,' said Stale Solbakken. 'Why stop now.'
Wednesday, Atlanta: Norway against Argentina, Haaland against Messi, a first-ever final at stake for one of them. Norway have never been past this stage. Then again, until this summer, Norway had never been here at all.
The holders needed extra time and a red card to shake off Switzerland; Norway have knocked out Brazil and England back to back. Messi at 39 against the tournament's most fearless defense, with a first Norwegian final ninety minutes away.
Nyland's penalty save from Bruno Guimaraes, then Haaland twice in eleven minutes — 79 and 90 — before Neymar's stoppage-time consolation. Brazil's earliest World Cup exit since 1990, and the record intact: five meetings with Brazil, still never beaten.
Four knockout matches, three goals conceded, one penalty save that broke a five-time champion. Norway's keeper on the quietest loud month of his life — and why the wall gets higher in Atlanta.
Mac Allister's opener was cancelled out by Ndoye, but after Embolo saw red the holders pulled away — Alvarez from distance, then Lautaro Martinez. Switzerland's best World Cup since 1954 ends at Arrowhead.
Kylian Mbappe shrugged off a first-half penalty miss to curl in his eighth goal of the tournament and set up Ousmane Dembele as France booked a semi-final place in Foxborough.
Fabian Ruiz and De Ketelaere traded first-half goals at SoFi. After Courtois limped off on 71, substitute keeper Lammens spilled a routine shot and Mikel Merino pounced on 88 — Spain meet France in Tuesday's semi-final.
Spain edged Portugal 1-0 in Arlington. Cristiano Ronaldo leaves the stage after a fifth World Cup without the trophy.
The USMNT's home World Cup ended in a lopsided round-of-16 defeat.
Orlando Gill saved from Havertz and Woltemade as Germany lost a World Cup shootout for the first time in their history.
| Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | France | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 9 |
| 2 | Norway | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 7 | 6 |
| 3 | Senegal | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 3 |
| 4 | Iraq | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 0 |
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