England fell behind to Norway in controversial fashion in their World Cup quarter-final. The Three Lions slipped after Andreas Schjelderup opened the scoring for the Scandinavians on 36 minutes at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida, notching his fourth goal involvement at this year's tournament.
Controversial Build-Up
England were furious that the goal was allowed to stand, claiming that captain Harry Kane had been fouled in the build-up before Schjelderup's cross-shot flew in past Jordan Pickford, cannoning off the post before it nestled into the back of the net. Patrick Berg challenged the Three Lions' skipper in centre-field, with the Bayern Munich striker going down under the challenge of the Norway midfielder. Referee Clement Turpin allowed play to continue, and Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard continued Norway's venture forward, sliding it wide left for Schjelderup.
He looked to head to the byline and get a cross in for Erling Haaland in the middle, as the Norwegian No9 made a move to the back post. Instead of finding Haaland, the left winger mishit his cross, and it flew past Pickford for 1-0.
Pundits Back Referee's Decision
On ITV, referee analyst Christina Unkel said that Turpin, the French official, was correct in not awarding a free kick. "No [it wasn't a foul], we take a look at it and rock it back and forth, no contact on the back of Kane's foot - clear possession with no foul leading up to it," she said. Pundit Gary Neville was in agreement in the studio. "Harry Kane wants a free kick. It's not a free kick, absolutely not," Neville said definitively.
England Equalise Before Half-Time
Jude Bellingham equalised in first-half stoppage time to send Thomas Tuchel's men in level at the break, and they could have been ahead had Kane stayed onside before clipping over Orjen Nyland just before the whistle.
