World Cup 2026: Quarterfinals - England vs Norway, Argentina vs Switzerland

Today was the final day of the Quarterfinal round at this edition of the World Cup. We had two games: England vs Norway followed by Argentina vs Switzerland. As has been typical for this competition, there was plenty of drama in each game. This is the greatest tournament in the world for a reason. Here are my thoughts on how everything went down:

England 2-1 Norway

What an awesome game this was. I thought it was pretty slow to start which was likely due to both the heat and the fact that this is a Quarterfinal. England had the better play early on though and looked likely to get the first goal. But of course, Norway would strike first. In the 36th minute, Harry Kane was robbed of the ball in his own half and it eventually made its way to Andreas Schjelderup out wide, He got around his defender Ezri Konsa and fired what looked like a cross towards the far post. It ended up hitting that post and going in, giving Norway a 1-0 lead. Norway were buoyed by the goal and created some chances immediately after going ahead. But just like how Norway scored when England was having the better of the play, England would do the same to Norway. In first half stoppage time, Jude Bellingham charged into the box and received the ball from Anthony Gordon. He took it around his defender and fired past Orjan Nyland in goal to make it level at 1-1 heading into the half. The goal wasn't without controversy, as the ball appeared to hit the overhead camera wire in the buildup to the goal. FIFA came out with an official statement saying that the technology in the ball did not detect anything, therefore the goal wasn't overturned.

Both teams had chances in the early part of the second half but the big moment came in the 57th minute. Norway had the ball in the back of the net following a scramble in the box after a corner. But Erling Haaland was judged to have fouled Elliot Anderson and the goal did not stand. Haaland did extend his arms out and shove Anderson, so it looked like the right call to me. Norway would go on to hit the bar in the 76th minute and both teams really pushed for a winner but after 90, we were going to extra time.

Just three minutes into the first half of extra time, England would go ahead. Morgan Rogers fired a shot from outside the box that Nyland saved by pushed back for a rebound. It was none other than Jude Bellingham who got to it first and put it into the back of the net. England then thought they had a penalty in the 99th minute but it was correctly ruled out by VAR. Referee Clement Turpin's explanation was that Djed Spence stuck his leg out in front of the defender to draw the contact and therefore it wasn't a penalty. It's exactly what I said to my dad during the review before he came out to make the announcement. I'm glad I haven't lost my fastball...yet. Haaland would surprisingly come off for Norway to start the second half of extra time. During that last 15, England probably had the better chances to get the game's fourth goal. In the end, they were able to keep their 2-1 lead and secure their spot in the Semifinals.

I think this was an incredible tournament for Norway. Maybe it's because I underestimated them coming in, but I didn't have them getting to a Quarterfinal. They proved me wrong and were a much better team overall than I thought they were.

England just keep moving on. I think they're a great example of how having a superstar clutch player can make all the difference. They actually have two. Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham have come up HUGE for them so far in this World Cup. Today it was Bellingham who stepped up in the clutch to carry them through. Teams who have players like that are always a tough out.

Argentina 3-1 Switzerland

Let's just get right into this one. Argentina got on the board early here, just 10 minutes into the game. A Lionel Messi corner was met by Alexis Mac Allister and headed past Gregor Kobel. Switzerland would have a penalty shout in the 32nd minute when an onrushing Emi Martinez took down Swiss striker Breel Embolo. However, Martinez got to the ball first and it was correct to not award a penalty. Switzerland had the better chances through the rest of the first half, as you'd expect when they were chasing the game. But the first 45 would end 1-0 to Argentina.

For the first 20 minutes of the second half, it didn't feel like the Swiss were going to be able to equalize. But in the 65th minute, Martinez was forced into a nice save from a Dan Ndoye header. And then just two minutes later, Ndoye would find the back of the net. He played a nice one-two with Ricardo Rodriguez down the left, with Rodriguez slipping him through into the box. Ndoye finished coolly past Martinez and the Swiss were fully back in it. Well...for a few minutes at least. Just four minutes after the goal, Embolo received a second yellow and was sent off. The referee initially called a foul on Leandro Paredes but upon review, determined that Embolo dived. Just a brutal way to get sent off. Switzerland would hold on though, with Kobel making a fantastic save in the final moments of stoppage time to get it to extra time at 1-1.

As you'd expect, Argentina had the better of the chances in extra time playing a man up. Switzerland did well to hold out for awhile but in the 112th minute, Argentina would go ahead for good. It was an incredible strike from Julian Alvarez that did it, as he curled the ball into the top corner. Then, just after the 120 minute mark, Lautaro Martinez finished off a counter attack to put the icing on the cake. Argentina were heading to the semifinals to meet England.

I feel similar about Switzerland as I did with Norway. This was a great World Cup for them. The Swiss are usually organized and tough to beat but lack the quality to really make a run. I think the overall quality in the team has risen and if they can keep growing, they should be a regular team in these stages of the competition.

Argentina just can't lose. It's been quite the interesting knockouts for them. The path to the Semifinals was Cape Verde, Egypt, and Switzerland. Compare that to England, who had to get through DR Congo, Mexico at the Azteca, and Norway. Those are two very different paths. And Argentina struggled a bit through their games. Cape Verde wouldn't go away, Egypt had a 2-0 lead in the second half, and Switzerland took them to extra time. It's job done for now but I'm fascinated to see how they look against England.

So that'll do it for the Quarterfinals. We'll have Spain vs France and Argentina vs England in the Semis. I cannot wait to see how those two games play out. Before I go though, I have to make a personal note here. I watched these games from the hospital after I broke my leg. Kind of a crazy thing to drop at the end of the blog like this but I'm doing ok. No surgery required, which is what I was most worried about. Anyway, I wasn't even going to do the blog but I got home during the end of the Argentina game and just wanted to. But I'm going to go get some rest now. I'll see you next week for the Semifinals.