England received a huge let off as they saw Norway’s second goal ruled out by VAR in their World Cup quarter-final.
After Jude Bellingham cancelled out Andreas Schjelderup’s opener in the first half, Torbjørn Heggem thought he had restored Norway’s lead in the 55th minute after forcing home at the back post from Patrick Berg’s corner.
Just like for Norway’s opener, England’s players went straight to referee Clement Turpin to appeal for a foul – and it soon emerged that they had a case.
Erling Haaland, who has been so prolific in front of goal for Norway this tournament, pushed his new Manchester City team-mate Elliot Anderson to the ground as the ball was whipped in.
Turpin was then recommended to the pitchside monitor to review the incident, with ITV refereeing expert Christina Unkel expecting the goal to be chalked off.
Unkel said: “They’ll check Haaland, because it was a full extension of the arms with the push. The VAR is looking at whether or not that would have prevented him [Anderson] from meaningfully be able have an impact as to defend that ball. I would be surprised if this was not overturned for a foul.”
Turpin didn’t need long at the monitor before coming to a decision, ruling out the goal for a foul against Anderson.
Earlier in the game, Kane was left aggrieved after the referee waved away appeals of a foul on the England captain in the build-up to Norway’s first goal.
England, who had dominated possession for the majority of the first half, fell behind in the 36th minute as Andreas Schjelderup fired in off the post from out wide, scoring an effort which looked like it was meant as a cross.
But in the moments leading up to the goal, Kane felt he was illegally dispossessed by Norway midfielder Berg, who came through the back of the Three Lions striker.
Kane was left holding his ankle as Norway burst towards the England box and found the back of the net, with the 32-year-old voicing his appeals to Turpin in the hope of seeing the Scandinavian side’s strike chalked off.
However, there was no obvious VAR review and Turpin swiftly indicated that the goal would stand.
Argentina saw VAR controversially rule in their favour for a foul significantly far back in the build-up to Egypt’s second goal in their last-16 clash – a decision that proved pivotal as the holders went on to win 3-2 – so England may have felt hard done by not to experience similar fortune.
But Unkel, along with ITV pundit Gary Neville, asserted that the right decision was made.
England went on to find an equaliser through Jude Bellingham late in the first half before Kane thought he had snatched another moments after, only to see the officials thwart him again as the linesman raised his flag for offside – a decision that was confirmed as correct.
