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Bellingham double sends England into World Cup semi-finals after extra-time victory England are one win away from reaching their first men's World Cup final since 1966. Author | George B Stadium | Miami Stadium Thomas Tuchel's side had to dig deep in fierce heat and humidity, riding their luck at times, but Bellingham once again proved England's driving force as they secured a place in the semi-finals, where Argentina await. It was a tight and absorbing contest, with Norway taking the lead after 36 minutes when Andreas Schjelderup's dipping strike caught out Jordan Pickford and found the net. England needed an immediate response and, fittingly, Bellingham delivered in first-half stoppage time. He met Anthony Gordon's pass in full stride before calmly finishing beyond Norway goalkeeper Orjan Nyland. Tuchel was forced into changes at the interval, withdrawing the influential Declan Rice, who had been managing illness and injury, along with Noni Madueke. Eberechi Eze a...

Haaland double sends Norway into last 32 after victory over Senegal Erling Haaland scored twice as Norway secured their place in the World Cup last 32 with a victory over Senegal in New Jersey. Author | Josh T Stadium | New York New Jersey Stadium  After only two matches at the tournament, the Manchester City striker Haaland has already scored twice as many World Cup goals (four) as any other Norwegian player in history. A closer look at what happened Full-back Marcus Pedersen, introduced early as a substitute, took advantage of a poor clearance from Senegal captain Kalidou Koulibaly to give Norway the lead late in the first half. Haaland then took centre stage after the break. He raced on to Martin Odegaard's incisive through ball to make it 2-0 in the 48th minute, becoming Norway's all-time leading scorer at World Cups in the process, before Ismaila Sarr reduced the deficit to revive Senegal's hopes. Haaland quickly restored Norway's two-goal advantage five minutes la...

Norway start World Cup with emphatic win They overcame a determined Iraq side in their opening Group I encounter as Erling Haaland marked his World Cup debut with two goals.  Author | Sean M Stadium | Boston Stadium The 25-year-old took his international tally to 57 goals in 51 appearances as Norway returned to the World Cup for the first time in 28 years. He came close to becoming the 55th player to score a World Cup hat-trick, only for Jalal Hassan to produce an excellent late save. Competing on football's biggest stage for the first time in 40 years, Iraq more than matched their opponents during the opening 25 minutes. However, the breakthrough arrived just 58 seconds after the first-half hydration break when David Moller Wolfe surged down the left and delivered a low cross that Haaland slid in at the far post. Iraq deservedly drew level in the 39th minute. Amir Al-Ammari's cross was met by Aymen Hussein, whose powerful downward header found the corner. Hussein had already s...

Norway are on the brink of reaching their first World Cup in nearly three decades Doubles from Erling Haaland and Alexander Sorloth secured a commanding victory over Estonia. Author |  Natalie R Stadium | Ullevaal Stadion For much of the first half, Norway struggled to make their dominance count, wasting several promising chances. But Sorloth finally made the breakthrough early in the second half with a header before adding a second moments later. Manchester City’s Haaland then took centre stage, heading in Julian Ryerson’s cross before drilling home his second to seal the contest. Robi Saarma’s strike offered Estonia brief consolation, but it did little to dampen Norwegian celebrations as Ståle Solbakken’s side closed in on a first World Cup appearance since 1998. The current qualifying equation The result marked a seventh consecutive win in qualifying, leaving Norway six points clear at the top of Group I and boasting a goal difference 19 better than Italy’s.= Should...

Shamrock Rovers are on the verge of making more history Michael Noonan has etched his name into European football history with a decisive debut goal for Shamrock Rovers, as the Irish side edged past Molde in the first leg of their Conference League play-off. Author - Jamie P Noonan, aged 16 years and 197 days, became the competition’s youngest-ever goalscorer when he calmly slotted home after Dylan Watts’ well-placed cross, just before the 60-minute mark.  In doing so, Noonan also emerged as the second youngest scorer in UEFA’s main club competitions—only Nii Lamptey, the former Aston Villa midfielder, has achieved this feat at 16 years and 100 days for Anderlecht in the UEFA Cup. Molde, already down to 10 men after an earlier incident, found themselves further punished when Valdemar Lund received a straight red card for a challenge on the young talent in the first half.  So, who is Michael Noonan? Previously linked with a move to Premier League champions Manchester City,...