Norway exits the World Cup with pride, having garnered admiration from neutrals for their spirited performances and their Viking spirit. Their journey suggests that a lengthy wait for another finals appearance isn’t in the cards.
The oppressive heat and humidity of Miami proved challenging for the Norwegian team, with even star player Erling Haaland needing to be substituted before the match concluded.
“To paraphrase Chico Marx to Mrs Teasdale in Duck Soup, who are you gonna believe? Me or your own eyes?”
remarked Ronnie, humorously expressing a sentiment many could relate to.
“Given FIFA’s claim that the ball’s ‘heartbeat’ did not detect a deviation when the Norwegian keeper’s clearance had first hit the Spidercam’s wires, should Croatia be even more concerned about their late equaliser against Portugal being stamped out when we couldn’t see a deviation but the ‘heartbeat’ had picked up on a mere follicle? How can we trust FIFA technology?”
This raises valid concerns. The use of the term technology in that context might indeed be unnecessary. Jonathan Wilson has already reported extensively on this issue.
Previously, the remarks from Egypt’s manager, Hossam Hassan, regarding the necessity of keeping Messi in the tournament could have been dismissed as the bitter musings of a dejected individual. However, it’s essential to remember that FIFA manipulated the qualifying process for the Club World Cup to ensure Inter Miami and Messi’s participation. Additionally, FIFA suspended two matches of Cristiano Ronaldo’s three-game ban for his red card against Ireland, allowing him to compete in every group-stage match, subsequently declaring an amnesty for other suspended players.
FIFA has a vested interest in retaining famous players in the tournament. What if concerns for entertainment and the relentless quest for growth have overshadowed genuine sporting integrity?
This is the precarious situation in which Infantino operates. The essence of sport lies in its credibility: football devoid of faith is meaningless. Marketing should never overshadow sporting priorities. When trust in integrity fades, doubt persists, reminiscent of the situation faced by Romanians around the turn of the millennium. If these doubts linger too long, the sport faces a grim future.
In a sidebar, it’s worth mentioning that something bears a striking resemblance to Neil Innes’ I’m Free to be an Idiot, leading to the former Monty Python collaborator receiving a songwriting credit and a share of the royalties in an out-of-court settlement.
While Wonderwall may be the England team’s anthem of choice, surely they should consider this more fitting (and arguably superior) tune.
Gabriel Clarke took on the responsibility of gathering post-match insights from Tuchel and Bellingham in the flash zone, and he executed it brilliantly.
Tuchel appeared wide-eyed and animated, reminiscent of Spud during his job interview in Trainspotting.
Bellingham, in contrast, seemed unfazed by any implied criticism from the German regarding the team’s performance.
When asked to address that criticism, Bellingham’s response was less than impressed. “Yeah, well, whatever. Whatever,” he stated, his body language suggesting his indifference. “It’s difficult out there. It’s a tough shift. All the players have put in a tough shift, so my thoughts and appreciation goes to the players who were out there and put in a great shift yet again.”
In a different post-match discussion, Bellingham remarked: “Maybe he doesn’t know what it’s like to play in those kind of conditions against Erling Haaland, [Martin] Ødegaard, [Antonio] Nusa, [Alexander] Sørloth. That’s not an easy team to play against. So, I think we’ve tried to create a positive environment. You’re not going to win every game, popping the ball and making a thousand passes. Sometimes you have to win dirty, and we’ve done that again tonight.”
“At the risk of being the 1,000th to say it – it’s the Cable of God,” joked George Peacock.
Get your jokes in now, folks, as there will be an abundance of “I can sit here and cry but I don’t want to do that,” references in the coming days.
Norway expressed frustration that England’s opening goal was allowed, as the ball appeared to hit a cable attached to an overhead camera, enabling Elliot Anderson to seize possession unchallenged and assist Anthony Gordon.
“We have done everything we could – the players have been phenomenal throughout the tournament. OK it was bizarre but it’s part of football and why it is the best sport in the world because things like that can happen. We have to accept it.” stated Ståle Solbakken. “We have given our all – the players have been phenomenal throughout the tournament. Yes, it was strange, but that’s part of football—it’s what makes it the greatest sport in the world, as unexpected events can occur. We must accept it.”
FIFA issued a statement confirming that a sensor in the ball indicated no evidence of contact with a cable.
Our own Ed Aarons rated Noni Madueke as England’s least effective player. Meanwhile, on U.S. television, Zlatan Ibrahimovic fueled the conversation with a halftime tirade, suggesting England effectively played with ten men.
Thomas Tuchel has undoubtedly excelled in guiding his team to the World Cup semi-finals, but the number of underutilized and underperforming squad members could prompt intriguing historical analysis.
There were some notable contributions elsewhere, with Djed Spence making an impact at left back, Morgan Rogers injecting much-needed energy, and Dan Burn reminding everyone that even in today’s era of passing and possession, it’s perfectly acceptable to rely on a strong player when defending a lead.
Barney highlighted the puzzling exclusion of Kobbie Mainoo. The Manchester United midfielder has yet to feature in England’s campaign despite being a reasonable option off the bench in the initial matches and the obvious choice in their subsequent match.
Tuchel went to great lengths to avoid using him against Norway, instead opting for a fatigued Declan Rice, who was replaced by Eberechi Eze in an advanced role that disrupted the entire setup, followed by a slightly injured Reece James as he scrambled to address his self-inflicted issues.
During those 120 minutes, the central midfield pairing shifted from Declan Rice and Anderson to Bellingham and Anderson, then to Reece James and Anderson, and finally to Morgan Rogers and Anderson. Notably absent was Kobbie Mainoo, who seems to be behind David Beckham, a cone, a giant lizard, and the overhead TV camera cable in the pecking order for a spot. Why is Mainoo even here? Why isn’t Adam Wharton here? These are questions that deserve a genuine response.
Barney Ronay was on the ground in Miami for the latest chapter in the Jude Bellingham saga. Despite the well-deserved accolades for England’s two-goal hero, there remains significant concern for a team that seems to have lost its flair and a coach who no longer appears to know his optimal lineup.
At times, this resembled the familiar England narrative of being the hollow men, waiting for the game to unfold around them, football as a slow suffocation in that thick, humid air. Yet, they had Jude Bellingham, who increasingly appears to inhabit a different realm of existence within this team, participating in a parallel tournament that has thus far propelled the rest along with him.
Whether you are catching your breath after an exhilarating doubleheader or waking up to the news of two thrilling quarter-finals, stay tuned here for all the latest news and reactions from an exciting 2026 World Cup.
Only four teams remain in the tournament, with England and Argentina joining France and Spain in the semi-finals. For the first time since FIFA’s rankings began in 1992, the World Cup semi-finalists are the top four teams in the world on paper.
England had to work hard in the Miami heat against Norway, but once again, Jude Bellingham rose to the occasion when it mattered most.
Argentina also needed extra time to overcome their European opponents; their standout player was Julian Alvarez, but they owe a debt of gratitude to Breel Embolo for getting himself sent off when Switzerland was on the verge of a historic result.
If you have thoughts on any of the above or anything else related to the World Cup, feel free to reach out via email at jonathan.howcroft.freelance@. Let’s dive into the discussion!
