A Famous Victory in the Azteca
England’s path to the last eight came through one of the most dramatic knockout matches in recent memory. Harry Kane’s 60th-minute penalty and a brace from Jude Bellingham earned 10-man England victory over Mexico at the Estadio Azteca, a match that was delayed by an hour due to severe weather including lightning near the stadium. espn.com espn.com
The Prince of Wales posted on social media at 4:15 a.m. UK time following the result: “Well done England! Bring on the quarter final!” The Independent reported that Prince William joined millions across the country in celebrating the triumph. gbnews.com independent.co.uk
Norway, playing in their first World Cup since 1998, reached the quarter-finals by knocking out five-time champions Brazil, with Erling Haaland scoring both goals in a 2-1 victory. miamiandbeaches.com aljazeera.com
Norway Hit by Illness Ahead of Showdown
Norway’s preparations have been disrupted by a sickness bug circulating through their camp. Manager Ståle Solbakken confirmed there had been “coughing and rasping” among the squad and staff, according to The Telegraph. Crystal Palace forward Jørgen Strand Larsen missed Norway’s opening game against Iraq through illness, while Marcus Holmgren Pedersen was absent from the round-of-16 win over Brazil. telegraph.co.uk
Multiple outlets reported that exhausting travel across the United States has compounded the fatigue concerns, though Solbakken said he was hopeful the situation was improving ahead of Saturday’s match. standard.co.uk mirror.co.uk
Oliver Appointed to Belgium-Spain; Final Question Lingers
English referee Michael Oliver has been appointed to officiate the quarter-final between Belgium and Spain in Los Angeles on Friday, according to the England Football Association. The Athletic reported that Oliver would not be permitted to take charge of the World Cup final at MetLife Stadium if it features either England or Argentina, per FIFA’s regulations governing referee nationality conflicts. Former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett told Football Insider that Oliver had “excelled” at the tournament and could be in contention for the final if those two nations are eliminated. englandfootball.com footballinsider247.com nytimes.com
The remaining quarter-final bracket features France against Morocco on Thursday in Boston, and Argentina against Switzerland on Saturday evening in Kansas City. aljazeera.com
