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Bellingham Strikes Twice Again to Fire England Into World Cup Semis

Marcus Bennett
Sports & Culture Reporter · 18 hours ago

Jude Bellingham scored twice against Norway in Miami, matching Harry Kane's tournament tally of six goals and sending England into the last four.

Bellingham Strikes Twice Again to Fire England Into World Cup Semis

Jude Bellingham keeps delivering when England need him most. Two goals against Norway in Miami — an equaliser to steady the ship, then a poacher's finish in extra-time — put England into the World Cup semi-finals and cemented the 23-year-old's place among the tournament's all-time greats.

The Numbers Don't Lie

Six goals. That's where Bellingham stands after the quarter-final, level with Harry Kane at the top of England's scoring charts. Together the pair account for 12 of England's 13 goals at this World Cup — a remarkable double act. But when Kane struggled to impose himself against Norway, it was Bellingham who stepped forward and got the job done.

He played 111 minutes in Florida and led all players on the pitch in shots, duels won, and fouls won. The big moments kept finding him — and he kept winning them.

Back-to-Back Brace Club

Just five days earlier, Bellingham had bagged a double against Mexico. According to Sky Sports, the last player to score braces in consecutive World Cup knockout matches was Diego Maradona. Bellingham is now in that conversation — which tells you everything about the level he is operating at. If you missed that stunning Mexico performance, Bellingham Doubles Up in 98 Seconds to Stun Mexico at the Azteca has the full breakdown.

Five of his six goals this summer have either drawn England level or pushed them in front. That's not just scoring — that's clutch scoring, the kind that wins knockout tournaments.

Neville Runs Out of Superlatives

Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville, speaking on ITV, put Bellingham's tournament into historical context alongside Paul Gascoigne, Michael Owen, and Wayne Rooney. His verdict was unambiguous: no England player has ever impacted a World Cup the way Bellingham is doing right now.

"An absolute superstar," Neville said. "He's giving everything and more out there for England."

For a deeper look at how Bellingham built the foundation for this kind of form, check out Jude Bellingham at 23: World Cup Star's Life On and Off the Pitch.

The Spiky Exchange With Tuchel

Not everything was smooth in Miami. England boss Thomas Tuchel was openly critical of the team's performance despite the result, telling ITV he was unhappy with how his side played even as he celebrated reaching the last four.

Bellingham, who had been full of praise for his teammates' work rate, wasn't having it. "Yeah, well. Whatever. Whatever," he fired back when told of Tuchel's comments. "It's a tough shift. All the players are putting in a tough shift."

Neville loved the friction. He called it a collision of "massive egos" and "world-class" personalities — exactly the kind of mentality you need to go deep in a World Cup.

England's Semi-Final Moment

Before this tournament, there was genuine debate about Bellingham's place in the squad. He was even left out of an England group in October. That context makes what he is doing now all the more striking.

His early tournament displays set the tone — those who followed his progress from the group stage know this run has been building for weeks. Bellingham Shines as England Advances with Win Over Panama captured the first signs of what was coming.

Now England are in a World Cup semi-final, and Bellingham is the man carrying them there. The stage is bigger. The moment is bigger. Everything points to him rising again.

Jude BellinghamProfileJude BellinghamProfessional footballer

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