The roar that greeted substitute Dan Burn’s headed clearance of Norway’s last cross and the referee’s final whistle was one that will stick with Andy Lines, the Mirror reporter who was in the stadium, forever. England had beaten Norway 2-1 in Miami, clinching a place in the World Cup semi-finals.
After the match, the players lined up arm in arm for the Wonderwall anthem, a moment that preceded a spine-tingling rendition of Hey Jude. David Beckham joined in, singing along on the giant screens, and Mick Jagger was part of the celebrations. The players then headed to the section where their families were sitting, applauded them, and went down the tunnel. Robbie Williams got a brief moment of glory as England fans belted out Angels.
“England beat Norway 2-1 in Miami to reach World Cup semi-finals as Dan Burn's clearance sparks celebrations.”
It was particularly poignant for Lines, who was at the last England‑Norway World Cup match, a qualifier in September 1980. His ticket then cost £3.50; fans today were paying up to £3,000. Before that game, half an hour before any fans were allowed into the stadium, three St George’s flags had been fixed to the fencing behind one of the goals. The bar inside the stadium was like a cocktail bar at a posh London hotel, serving double 12‑year‑old blended Scotch for £22 and frozen margaritas for £25. “You don’t have cocktails at sports events in England?” asked a bemused bartender. “They are very popular here!”
The win was built on a tactical tweak from manager Thomas Tuchel, with Jude Bellingham shouldering the weight of the nation. Norway boss Ståle Solbakken substituted Erling Haaland despite needing a goal – a decision that drew a pointed remark from Haaland’s father about the referee. Tuchel himself was involved in a heated ITV interview after the match.
England now face Argentina in the semi‑final, setting up a renewal of one of football’s fiercest rivalries. South Beach, the party city, is bracing for what could be the mother of all parties.