England secured qualification for the semi-final of the 2026 World Cup with a controversial 2-1 victory against Erling Haaland’s Norway.

Thomas Tuchel’s side progress to the next round after another Jude Bellingham brace, with the winning goal coming in extra time. The Real Madrid midfielder had equalised with a left-footed drive in the first-half after the Three Lions fell behind early.

But there has been a lot made about that equaliser. Norway will feel hard done by after claims emerged that the goal could’ve been ruled out. That’s because many believe the ball collided with a spidercam in the build-up, which would mean anything that happened after would be considered irrelevant.

FIFA Explained Why England’s Goal Stood

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Despite many viewers and the Norway goalkeeper being adamant that there was contact between the ball and the camera, the referee and VAR didn’t get involved at all.

That’s because, according to FIFA, the sensor inside the football didn’t detect any contact. A statement released by the governing body said:

Norway’s Manager Reveals Conversation With Referee

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Several members of Norway’s playing and coaching staff immediately appealed to the referee, Clement Turpin. However, manager Stale Solbakken admitted he was not one of them.

Speaking after the defeat, Solbakken revealed the conversation he had with Turpin following the half-time whistle, as they could be seen in discussion on the pitch. He told reporters (per The Guardian):

So, despite the referee simply not seeing the alleged incident, he also wasn’t alerted that it may have been a possibility. However, the Norwegian boss conceded he didn’t have a leg to stand on as FIFA are claiming there was no touch of the camera.

Maintaining the fact he believes the wrong decision was reached, he added: “I can sit here and cry but I don’t want to do that. 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.

“It was unlucky for us. The ball fell straight down from the sky, so it takes this direction. It became a misunderstanding among our players, and it was a bad moment for us. We can’t do anything about that.”

Arsenal are now expected to formally open talks with Newcastle United over a deal to sign midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, according to a new update from GIVEMESPORT senior correspondent Ben Jacobs.

Arsenal have had a quiet start to the summer transfer window, with the addition of goalkeeper Illan Meslier on a free transfer their only incoming business so far, with Piero Hincapie also completing a permanent move to the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners had looked to sign Leicester City sensation Jeremy Monga, but that deal was hijacked by Manchester City and he has joined Enzo Maresca’s side instead.

If reports are to be believed, two of the north London outfit’s biggest transfer priorities this summer are in central midfield and in attack.

Arsenal have made Aston Villa and England star Morgan Rogers their top attacking target, although their Premier League rivals are said to value him at a British transfer record fee of £130m.

The Gunners have also been linked with Christos Tzolis of Club Brugge and Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez, among other names, but in midfield it is Guimaraes who is their key target.

Jacobs: Arsenal Set to Open Formal Guimaraes Talks

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Newcastle have already lost Anthony Gordon and then Sandro Tonali from their midfield this summer, and they are determined to keep hold of the Italian’s former engine room partner.

However, Mikel Arteta is said to be particularly keen to bring the Brazil international to the club, and the ‘world-class’ player himself has made it clear that he would also like to join the Gunners if the deal was right for Newcastle.

Newcastle sources have denied any club-to-club contact yet, which has left the Tyneside outfit ‘astonished’ given what has been out in the media, but now Jacobs has confirmed on GMS’ latest Market Madness podcast that they are set to formally open talks with their Premier League rivals over a move.

He said: “Arsenal are expected to formally open talks with Newcastle United for Bruno Guimaraes, even though Newcastle flatly deny any contact and say the player is not for sale. And this is going to be really interesting because I don’t think we’re going to get an Alexander Isak situation where the player returns from the World Cup and starts throwing his toys out the pram or saying he doesn’t want to play for Newcastle United.

“Guimaraes is not like that. He’s been Newcastle through and through. They call him a Brazilian Geordie, and yet it’s very clear the player would like to join, and that has been directly communicated to Newcastle United. My understanding is that a lot of the talks so far have taken place through so-called super agents with mandates to do the deal and intermediaries.

“And in those verbal conversations, Arsenal have made it clear they’re prepared to go up to £60-65m, and Newcastle’s valuation of Bruno Guimaraes, if they change their not-for-sale stance, is more like £80-90m.”

Arsenal Hold Talks to Sign ‘France’s Best Midfielder’

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Arsenal are considering other midfield options too, according to reports, with one claiming that they have held talks over a potential deal for AS Roma and France midfield star Manu Kone.

Kone starred in the Les Bleus midfield after starting the World Cup quarter-final win over Morocco, and there is an expectation that he will be sold by the Serie A outfit this summer as interest in him grows.

Roma are said to value the 25-year-old at around the £50m mark, which would mean he would be cheaper than Guimaraes.

England booked their place in the World Cup semi-finals with a dramatic 2-1 extra-time win over Norway in Miami, but it was far from straightforward.

Stale Solbakken’s side led through Andreas Schjelderup’s early strike and will rue Alexander Sorloth’s decision not to play the ball to Erling Haaland in a glorious two-on-one soon after.

Jude Bellingham dragged Thomas Tuchel’s men level just before the break, and Norway saw a second goal chalked off by VAR when Haaland was penalised for pushing Elliot Anderson ahead of Torbjorn Heggem’s effort. England survived a testing second half before Bellingham struck again in extra-time, pouncing on a mistake from goalkeeper Orjan Nyland to send the Three Lions through.

Norwegian Outlets Fume Over Camera Wire Controversy

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VG, Norway’s biggest newspaper, were adamant Nyland’s goal-kick was interfered with before Bellingham’s equaliser, reporting that the Norwegian camp believes Orjan Nyland’s shot from goal was stopped by a camera wire before England equalised, adding:

NRK echoed the fury, insisting the officials should have intervened: “The Norwegian team was furious after England tied the game 1–1. Before the goal, Orjan hits the camera wire across the field, so the ball is shorter than it should have been. The referees should have looked into that. If it turns out that the ball hit the cable, we are in for the refereeing scandal of the ages.”

Dagbladet Praise Solbakken’s Side Despite Exit

REUTERS/Dylan Martinez

Not every outlet dwelled on the controversy. Dagbladet instead focused on the mood back home, writing: “Snipp, snipp, snoot… last night the World Cup adventure was over for Norway. England won 2-1 in the quarter-finals. But rarely have Norwegian players been more cheerful after a loss. The World Cup ended up as a huge, Norwegian party.”

The paper noted that Solbakken’s squad will be honoured at Oslo’s Castle Square in the coming days, crediting the manager with uniting the nation “in a way no one else has done before.”