England's World Cup campaign continues, but not without controversy, after a 2-1 quarter-final win over Norway in Miami. The victory, which sends England to the semi-finals, was marked by a disputed equalizing goal by Jude Bellingham, with Norway claiming the ball hit a spidercam wire before reaching the player.
What Happened
England's win was sealed in extra-time, with Thomas Tuchel's team coming from behind to defeat a resilient Norway side. The match was marked by several contentious moments, including the disputed equalizer and a goal disallowed for Norway.
"We got lucky," said England captain Harry Kane after the match.
Controversy Over Spidercam Interference
The incident in question occurred in the build-up to Bellingham's equalizing goal, with Norway claiming the ball struck one of the spidercam wires. The Norwegians argued that the goal should have been disallowed, but the referee and video assistant referee (VAR) disagreed.
"It's ridiculous, this one with the wire," said Norway midfielder Sander Berge. "[The result] 2-1 says itself – there are small margins and we know which way it went."
What Experts Say
The incident has sparked debate over the use of spidercams in football, with some arguing that they can interfere with play. However, the technology used to track the ball's trajectory, known as Snicko, indicated that the ball did not touch the wire.
Key Numbers
- 2-1: England's winning scoreline against Norway
- 3: Number of World Cup semi-finals England has reached (1966, 1990, 2018)
Key Facts
- Who: England and Norway
- What: World Cup quarter-final match
- Impact: England advances to the semi-finals, while Norway is eliminated
Other Sports News
In other sports news, the Brewers' Jacob Misiorowski will miss the All-Star Game due to arm fatigue. The right-hander was scratched from his scheduled start against the Pirates on Sunday.
What Comes Next
England will face the winner of the quarter-final match between France and Spain in the semi-finals. The match is scheduled to take place on Wednesday.