Norway's Andreas Schjelderup has claimed that several refereeing calls from Clement Turpin and VAR during their World Cup quarter-final defeat to England 'were a bit bitter' as the plucky underdogs were left to rue their elimination. The Norwegians entered the match as rank outsiders yet seized the initiative when Schjelderup's cross ricocheted in off the post to hand his nation a stunning early lead.
Controversial Calls in England Comeback
England mounted a spirited comeback, with Jude Bellingham netting twice and sealing victory in extra time. His leveller arrived late in the first half, though Norway contended that the ball had struck one of the cables suspending the camera above the pitch. FIFA regulations stipulate that if that happens, play should be halted, but the governing body has firmly dismissed claims of any contact.
Erling Haaland was also subsequently penalised for a foul in the second half, resulting in Torbjorn Heggem's strike being disallowed, and those rulings have left a distinctly bitter taste. Schjelderup said: 'Unfortunately, the margins were against us, the odds were against us. Some decisions by the referee were a bit bitter. If we lost fully, it would have been a bit different.'
Odegaard Echoes Frustration
Playmaker Martin Odegaard, who stood out as one of Norway's most influential performers, lamented that they 'didn't get much help from the referee.' He said: 'The margins went against us and we had a bit of bad luck.' When pressed on Bellingham's equaliser and the events preceding it, he added: 'I didn't see it myself. Margins were not in our favour today with some of the decisions. Maybe you need that in games like this.'
Manager Reflects on Contrasting Fortunes
Norway had caused a major upset by knocking Brazil out to reach the quarter-finals, with manager Stale Solbakken admitting his side had been fortunate in that victory — though England afforded them no such good fortune. 'I feel sorry for the lads,' he said. 'This is top level sports at its best or its most gruesome. We were lucky against Brazil, today we were not so lucky. We had margins go in our favour against Brazil, but not today. Sometimes you're lucky. We were lucky against Brazil. Today we were not. The margins were not in our favour, but that's life.'
England will now take on Argentina on Wednesday evening for a place in the World Cup final against either Spain or France.
