Solbakken breaks down in tears after Bellingham's extra-time goal ends Norway's World Cup run

Jude Bellingham scored twice, including a winner three minutes into extra-time, as England defeated Norway 2-1 in the World Cup quarter-finals at Miami Stadium on Saturday, ending a Norwegian campaign that had already stunned Brazil in the previous round.

Andreas Schjelderup gave Norway the lead before Bellingham levelled two minutes into first-half stoppage time. The Real Madrid midfielder then broke Norwegian hearts again early in extra-time to send Thomas Tuchel’s side through to the last four.

A visibly devastated Solbakken broke down in tears during a post-match interview with Norwegian broadcaster NRK. “I feel tremendous sadness for the boys; this is football at its highest level, giving you the most beautiful and harshest moments depending on which side you’re on,” he said.

“The truth is we were on the lucky and fortunate side against Brazil, but today we weren’t. After a tough first 20 minutes in the match, we delivered a heroic performance in every possible way and I can’t blame the players or ask more of them than what they gave.”

Solbakken also cast doubt on the legitimacy of Bellingham’s equaliser, suggesting the ball struck one of the overhead TV cables inside the stadium before dropping into a dangerous area that confused Norway’s defenders. “The ball fell straight down from the sky, so it changed its direction,” he said. “It became a misunderstanding among our players and it was in a bad moment for us.”

FIFA moved quickly to address the controversy, issuing a statement confirming that the sensor inside the match ball recorded no contact with the wire at the relevant moment. “The sensor in the connected ball showed no peak in the ‘heartbeat of the ball’ when in the air, and therefore no evidence that the ball touched the overhead wire and changed the movement of the ball,” the governing body said.

Solbakken acknowledged there was little he could do to challenge the ruling. “I don’t think we will play the game again, so that’s how it is,” he said, though he maintained that everyone on the pitch — including Norway goalkeeper Orjan — believed the ball had made contact with the wire.

England advance to the World Cup semi-finals, while Norway exit a tournament in which they had been widely regarded as underdogs from the outset.