In pictures: Scenes as England victorious in World Cup quarter final

Lancashire fans celebrated as England fought their way into the semi finals of FIFA World Cup 2026 after winning a nail-biting quarter-final match against Norway.

Even the Prince of Wales has congratulated England on a 2-1 victory against Norway, which will see the team into its first World Cup semi-final since 2018 .

England will next take to the field against Argentina after securing a 2-1 win over Norway on Saturday to book a fourth World Cup semi-final appearance.

It will be the seventh time England have played in the semi-finals of a major tournament, not including the 1968 European Championship when only four teams qualified for the finals.

Meanwhile, Former England striker Gary Lineker believes Jude Bellingham could be the country’s “greatest ever” footballer.

The Real Madrid midfielder scored twice – the first player to do so in consecutive knockout stage games at a single World Cup since Diego Maradona in 1986 – in the 2-1 win over Norway which set up a semi-final against Argentina.

Nine of Bellingham’s 12 England goals have been at major tournaments and his six goals in the tournament put him with alongside Lineker (1986) and Harry Kane (2018, 2026) as the only England players to score at least five at a single World Cup.

“I would go as far as to say I think there’s a chance that I think he could well be, or end up being, England’s greatest ever footballer. And that is a big shout,” Lineker told the Rest is Football on Netflix.

“We’ve had some really great players. Some of them have not necessarily done it for their country, others have.

“Go back to people like Bobby Charlton obviously, I would say would have to be up there.

“You would put Harry Kane in that bracket and there are other players as well, but I think at this age, to be doing what he’s doing and to grabbing England by the scruff and getting them over the line, that is superstar.”

How England got on in their previous last-four encounters.

England 2 Portugal 1 – 1966 World Cup

Portugal had a 100 per cent record going into the match at Wembley and seven of their 14 goals came from an inspired Eusebio. However, Bobby Charlton struck in either half which meant that, while Eusebio inevitably pulled one back from the penalty spot late on, it was ultimately a mere consolation. The rest, as they say, is history.

West Germany 1 England 1 (West Germany won 4-3 on penalties) – 1990 World Cup

Paul Gascoigne’s tears and the start of their penalty shootout woes were the legacies of England’s biggest game since seeing off the same opponents in the final 24 years earlier. Gary Lineker cancelled out Andreas Brehme’s deflected effort at the Stadio delle Alpi before, in the shootout, Stuart Pearce saw his spot-kick saved and Chris Waddle blazed over.

Germany 1 England 1 (Germany won 6-5 on penalties) – 1996 European Championship

A familiar opponent and outcome as 30 years of hurt continued at Wembley. Alan Shearer headed England in front early on, but Stefan Kuntz soon levelled and, while Gascoigne was agonisingly close to sliding in a winner in extra time, the teams could not be separated after 120 minutes. Remarkably, the first 10 penalties were scored in the shootout, meaning Gareth Southgate’s miss proved decisive.

Croatia 2-1 England (after extra time) – 2018 World Cup

Now the manager, Southgate led England back to the sharp end of a major event once more but, despite Kieran Trippier’s early free-kick giving them reason to believe, Croatia had other ideas. Ivan Perisic struck midway through the second half at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium before Mario Mandzukic struck in extra time to break English hearts.

England 2 Denmark 1 (after extra time) – 2020 European Championship

Falling behind to Mikkel Damsgaard’s goal might have invoked a familiar sinking feeling within England fans, but Simon Kjaer’s own goal sent the match to an additional 30 minutes at Wembley. A nerve-racking shootout was avoided when Harry Kane converted after his penalty was saved as England ended their semi-final hoodoo. However, more penalty heartbreak awaited England in the final against Italy.

England 2 Netherlands 1 – 2024 European Championships

Ollie Watkins’ last-minute winner sent Southgate to a second major final as England manager. After Harry Kane’s spot-kick cancelled out a superb Xavi Simons opener, substitutes Cole Palmer and Watkins combined for a winner, but fi