England 2-1 (aet) Norway (Bellingham 45’+2, 93′ | Schjelderup 36′)
MIAMI — This is turning into the longest march. England won’t mind if they keep scraping by, but boy is this hands-to-the-pump vibe hard to take.
Half the team were physically on their knees when the final whistle blew and their 2-1 victory over Norway was sealed in extra-time. Metaphorically, it felt like that much earlier in the stands.
Is it coming home? Are there more Wonderwalls ahead? Where there is Jude Belingham, there is hope. Bellingham is not so much a player capable of catching the sun, he is the sun. England’s sun, and we are all grateful for his life-giving glory.
Without him England appeared no nearer finding the answers to 60 years of World Cup emptiness than any prior configuration. Thomas Tuchel promised riches but for much of this match against a modest opponent he delivered the same crushing poverty we have seen a thousand times before.
