World Cup 2026: England set up Argentina semi, Haaland’s father says Norway ‘robbed’, Senegal sack Thiaw – live
World Cup 2026 Live Updates: England Advance to Semi-Finals, Norway's Heartbreak Continues
World Cup 2026 - Good morning once more! The heat outside is quite something today, which seems fitting for all those England supporters still recovering from last night's celebrations. Before we dive into the football action, there is some cricket news worth mentioning: Brendon McCullum has been dismissed from his role as Test coach for England's cricket team. You can find the full story by clicking through to the article.
Will Magee's fingers are ready and eager for what promises to be a crucial two-hour session. This period could well shape the entire tournament's narrative. Speaking of England, did you know that several current squad members have brothers playing professionally? Trevoh Chalobah's sibling Nathaniel is well-established in the game. Meanwhile, Jarell Quansah's brother Keenan has recently signed with Slough, and Harry Maguire's Laurence moved to Rochdale this week.
I've always thought about a marketing concept for a lower-league club to assemble a team featuring lesser-known relatives of famous footballers. The idea came to me while covering a Macclesfield versus Northampton match where Lewis Young—Ashley Young's younger brother—was on the pitch. At that moment, Ashley was still at Manchester United and came to watch. Interestingly, more fans wanted his autograph than to watch the rather dull game itself. If any League Two side wants to explore this idea, I'd love to hear from them.
On and Off the Pitch: Brother Connections and Fan Reactions
Jobe Bellingham appears to be in excellent spirits as he returns to Borussia Dortmund's training sessions. I wonder what could be causing such cheerfulness? Meanwhile, reader Dom sent an email suggesting that if England's recent victory isn't permanently known as "The Wire of God" match, then we've truly missed something special.
There's also the matter of Cablegate—a step-by-step guide to understanding this ongoing story. While it may not seem like a particularly busy day, there's plenty happening. Norwegian Air has kept its promise to British Airways following a social media wager. After England's 2-1 extra-time triumph over Norway in the quarter-final, the Norwegian carrier changed its Instagram profile image to display British Airways' logo for twenty-four hours.
Before the match, the two airlines made a lighthearted bet: the carrier representing the losing nation would swap its profile picture for the winner's. "Even though our tournament journey has ended, this friendly wager will remain in our hearts forever," Norwegian wrote beneath the unfamiliar logo, adding congratulations to England. "We wish England and British Airways every success in the semi-final, and we genuinely hope you'll bring football home!"
Goalkeeper Record and Tactical Observations
Chris Mercer reached out with an interesting observation: "I'm curious how many goals have been scored against England while an England player was on the ground, pleading for a free kick that the referee had already dismissed?" He continued, "This behavior reduces the team to ten men and distracts the defense from performing their duties effectively. The player should always rise and assist his team. Let VAR handle it if there was truly a serious foul."
Jordan Pickford has been reflecting on what he calls "a tremendous honor" in breaking England's record for World Cup goalkeeping appearances. The Everton goalkeeper played his eighteenth tournament match, surpassing Peter Shilton's tally. He helped secure a 2-1 victory over Norway in extra time, though it wasn't straightforward. Norway took the lead through Andreas Schjelderup's cross-shot, which Pickford should have saved.
"First and foremost, it's about the team, as I always emphasize. Reaching another semi-final means we must keep pushing forward. We've had an excellent match tonight against a challenging opponent, and we've emerged victorious. It's a wonderful honor to reach another semi-final."
"The record is a special achievement for myself and my family, but we're here for the team. I'll reflect on that in years to come. Right now, everyone who knows me understands it's about getting the job done and concentrating on the next game."
Reader Stephen questioned whether Norway's disallowed goal might have been offside anyway, even if the shove was considered minimal. However, the goal was correctly ruled onside. Stephen also noted that Tuchel nearly made a mistake at halftime by placing Bellingham in midfield. While Bellingham can certainly play there, he tracks back more effectively in the number ten role compared to Eze.
As we look ahead to Wednesday's semi-final against Argentina, England fans will be watching closely. The tournament continues to deliver drama, and with Haaland's father claiming Norway was "robbed" and Senegal having sacked Thiaw, there's plenty happening beyond just the English campaign.