Rule Britannia!

Norway - England 1-2

Ah, England playing on a Saturday, and I was off - kind of, so I could take refuge at home from the masses and the noise, and watch the game in peace. And what a great game it was!

Norway has done supremely well at this World Cup. As a matter of fact, last time they were at an World Cup, in France 1998, they had such a wonderful team that in the end it was a big reason of why I fell in love with Manchester United - a love story that still lasts today. Henning Berg, Ronnie Johnsen and of course, Ole Gunnar and, if we're to be completely honest, David Beckham had something to do with it too.

Back then, they lost the first knock-out game to Italy. This time, Ivory Coast and mighty Brazil were brushed aside. and England was looking shaky for large swathes of the game, but they used cunning.

Let me explain. The way the first half was going, it was Norway's game. That shot that opened the scoring was stunning! Pickford didn't know what hit him. And on a couple of occasions, I was left open-mouthed by Haaland's headers. They way he lifts himself in the air so effortlessly, with barely any flexing of the knees, the height he can reach and the power he puts in the ball, they're something out of this world. Very different than prime Ronaldo, but just as physics-defying, just as unstoppable.

And again, one cannot help but notice how disciplined, how well organised, how confident, and how strong in possesion this Norway team is.

Admittedly, England has done really well to pull back so close to half time. Bellingham's first goal was a thing of wonder, knotting defenders legs and throwing the ball across the keeper, with no chance for poor Nyland. Harry Kane was unfortunate to have his goal called off for offside just seconds later, but the execution was beautiful. Old school chip, the kind that forwards are to afraid to try nowadays. It would've been a different game, and not necessarily easier for England had they gone in 2-1 at half-time.

On Heggem's cancelled goal, and the preceeding Haaland foul: look, I don't know. The rules get changed, adjusted, interpreted and debated in all sorts of ways. It's obvious that Haaland's push is a foul. It comes before the ball was in play and has no bearing on the action. But a foul is still a foul, even if the ball is not in play. If it's a foul, corner should not be taken, and the ball should go to England. But why then, when the goal was cancelled, the decision was to retake the corner? Was it not a foul then?

It would be too much to suspect conspiracy, although I'm sure FIFA prefers England to Norway in the semifinal. But it is still poor refereeing, it's official decision taking precedence over what happens on the pitch. It's also a far cry from Egypt's second goal against Argentina, called off by VAR for a very soft step on foot 30 seconds earlier at the other side of the pitch. I saw a similar one in this game by the way, that was not sanctioned in any way whatsoever, nor was it brought into discussion by commentators, pundits or anyone. So Egypt's goal was clearly cancelled because of an agenda. Norway's... I'd say probably not. Should it have been cancelled? It's a 50:50 for me.

Even so, Norway knew they needed to score again. However. After the cancelled goal, and especially for the last 20 minutes of the 90, I think the Norwegians started to tire. Whether it was simply fitness, or that plus being overwhelmed by the occasion, by the intensity of the game, or both, their excellent shape and organisation started to crack. A marked drop in offensive intent, and allowing England to get close and threaten the goal on a couple of occasions, things that did not happen in the first half. As we headed towards the end of 90 minutes, Norway looked less and less like a team capable to score.

And it's in this that Engalnd's better game management showed. They held on, pushed as much as they could push, but most importantly, stayed calm and waited for their chance.

It didn't come in 90 minutes, but came pretty quickly after that. Rogers shot from a distance, Nyland spilled the ball, Bellingham was focused, and knew both how to be opportunistic, and how to convert the dropped ball. This goal looked pretty much identical with Marino's winning goal against Belgium the day before. Yet there was no talk about 'Nyland's big mistake', how the keeper should've done better and all of that. But Nyland's not playing for Manchester United, is he?

And after Bellingham's second, the game was pretty much up. Norway was tiiiired, and only threatened through a few individual actions from Nussa. Nothing to write home about, the game was done. Tuchel was right to say after the game that England didn't play as well as they should have, but Belligham is also right to reply 'whatever' to that. It was a tough, tough game, and they came out on top. 

I wanted Norway to win, but well done England! They did better on the day.

Argentina - Switzerland 3-1

Now, of course, I want Argentina to lose at the first available opportunity. That Egypt game was shambles, they should no longer be in the competition.

I didn't have much hope though, didn't see Switzerland capable of troubling them. It's probably why I fell asleep shortly after MacAllister's goal.

Woke up sometime in the 70-something minute, to see the score at 1-1, and Switzerland playing in 10. I wonder how red exactly was Embolo's red card, but I have not seen the action, so won't speak about it.

But of course, Switzerland did really well to pull level. The final minutes were an Argentina onslaught, and it was obvious that the Swiss are not hoping for much but penalties. They lookde tired too, especially going into extra time, but they did really well to anihilate Messi and hold on as much as they could.

The second goal, Alvarez in the 112th minute, was an opportunistic shot aided by a bit of luck, btu if you let your opponent get this close to your goal this much of the time, one of these what if shots is bound to get in at some point. 

There was an attempt to attack from the Swiss in the last 10 minutes, but it really was too little too late. Lautaro Martinez's 3rd goal sealed the faith of the game, but it was otherwise as useless as Neymar's penalty against Norway.

So, I don't know, well done Argentina I guess. They proved they can do it even when Messi has an off day, and they proved they can persist in attack until they get it. They were also 10 minutes away from elimination, but history is made up of what happened, not by what could have.

*

This is it then, France versus Spain and England v Argentina. I'll refer back to the movie Sixty-Six, when Eddie Marsden asks the kid: 'At the end of the day, who do you really want to win? Honestly?' and the kid replies reluctantly: 'England'

This is it, I switched allegiances, turncoat that I am, and after Portugal and Norway, I now want England to win. They won't, it's still France's tournament bar a miracle or some more cheating, I'm hoping at least England will dispatch Argentina quickly. Yes, exactly, like in the Falklands.