World Cup 2026 Saturday takeaways: Jude Bellingham shines; Argentina takes advantage of Swiss flop

He broke the 1-1 tie in the 93rd minute during extra time by hustling to a loose ball off a blocked strike, firing the rebound attempt before Nyland had time to react.

Bellingham has four goals over the past two matches, also scoring twice in a raucous road environment in Mexico City against Mexico during a 3-2 Round of 16 win. He has six goals overall, tied with Harry Kane (2026, 2018) and Gary Lineker (1986) for the most by an England goalscorer at one World Cup.

"Player of the tournament, maybe," midfielder Morgan Rogers claimed afterward when asked about Bellingham's continued brilliance, per Fox's coverage.

"Unbelievable. To say people were thinking that he wasn't going to play this tournament and he wasn't going to be here is ridiculous," Rogers added. "He's worked so hard for the team... and he gets the rewards for it," he continued. "What a player, what a guy."

VAR for thee, but not for Three (Lions)

England's win wasn't without controversy. VAR (Video Assistant Referee) correctly waved off Norway's go-ahead goal in the 55th minute when Erling Haaland was ruled to have committed a foul against England's Elliot Anderson, but was nowhere to be seen when Nyland's goal kick that initiated the sequence leading to the Three Lions' first goal appeared to perhaps hit a wire inside Miami Stadium.

"The ball actually is touched by the cable attached to the cable camera above the stadium," Fox studio host Rebecca Lowe said during the halftime intermission. "If the ball touches any outside object, then the whistle should go," she added, quoting Fox's rules analyst.

While even a slo-mo, frame-by-frame replay left it unclear whether the ball was obstructed, in a game where a player can be a fraction of a millimeter offside, film micro-analyzed and a goal disallowed, how was play not stopped for a check? The call may not have changed, but failing to stop for a review was still a massive oversight. 

Erling Haaland's end doesn't overshadow phenomenal World Cup

Haaland, one of this World Cup's biggest stars, didn't have the ending he deserved after scoring seven goals while marching Norway to the Xth quarterfinal in national team history. In addition to his role in the VAR-rejected goal, Haaland had little impact before being substituted off during the break between extra-time periods, finishing with just two total shots and 0.11 expected goals.

After previously scoring at least one goal in each World Cup game he appeared in this tournament, Saturday's quarterfinal loss marked an unceremonious end to Haaland's run. But between his breathtaking goalscoring on the pitch and incredible Snapchat content off it, few players (excluding Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha) gained more fans, and none likely as long-term. One setback won't change that. Instead, it only makes us more excited for what's next.

Switzerland's Breel Embolo flops at the wrong time

Switzerland's celebration after tying Argentina at 1-1 in an eventual 3-1 loss was short-lived when VAR overturned a yellow card against Argentina by calling out a clear flop by Embolo, resulting in his second yellow and dismissal, leaving the Rossocrociati with 10 players.

Embolo was visibly upset afterward, or maybe it was another acting job. Who knows? 

Either way, as much as VAR gets ridiculed, cracking down on junk like flopping is ultimately great and should be celebrated. While unfortunate that the sequence impacted the result, officials aren't to blame. In fact, it's one of the rare times they should be celebrated.

Argentina continues not making it look easy

The defending World Cup champs are two wins shy of becoming the first repeat champion since Brazil (1958, 1962), and if La Seleccion does so, this title might be even sweeter. For the third consecutive time in the knockout stage, Argentina had to scrap and claw to pull out Saturday's win, breaking a 1-1 tie in the 112th minute on Julian Alvarez's sensational crosser into the net. 

In the Round of 32, Argentina eked past a scrappy Cabo Verde, which twice erased a one-goal deficit in an eventual 3-2 extra-time loss. During the quarters, La Albiceleste rallied from down 2-0 in the second half against Egypt with three goals in a 13-minute span.

Argentina has by no means dominated the World Cup, making the run even more remarkable. Despite not being at its best, the reigning title holders have managed to come up big when it matters most. Argentina has been here before, and it's playing like it.