Norway Coach Loses It, Launches Water Bottle at Assistant in Sideline Meltdown

Jul 13 2026

Stale Solbakken erupted in a fit of rage, launching a water bottle at his assistant after England's Jude Bellingham leveled the score in injury time.

Norway shocked everyone by taking the lead in Miami during the 36th minute. Andreas Schjelderup unleashed a stunning strike that ricocheted off the far post, catching England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford off guard. This goal marked a significant turnaround for Norway, who had struggled early on but found their rhythm, disrupting England's initial dominance.

Just as Norway seemed set to head into halftime with their lead intact, England struck back with a vengeance.

Bellingham received a pass from Anthony Gordon, maneuvered past three Norwegian defenders in the penalty area, and unleashed a powerful shot that beat goalkeeper Orjan Nyland, equalizing in the second minute of injury time.

This goal sent Solbakken over the edge. Infuriated on the touchline, he hurled a water bottle in frustration, narrowly missing one of his assistant coaches.

The chaos extended beyond the sideline. Just before England regained possession, Nyland's goal kick clipped an overhead camera cable, sending the ball veering off course.

Elliot Anderson seized the loose ball and quickly passed it to Anthony Gordon, whose assist set Bellingham on his electrifying run that led to the equalizer.

Norwegian players immediately surrounded referee Clement Turpin, with Nyland gesturing emphatically toward the overhead cable, insisting that play should have been stopped before England scored.

Bellingham's equalizer marked his fifth goal of the tournament and his sixth overall in World Cup play, placing him among England's elite scorers.

Only Gary Lineker, with 10 World Cup goals, and Harry Kane, who has netted 14, sit above him on England's all-time scoring list.

This strike continued a remarkable trend for the 22-year-old, who has consistently delivered crucial performances for England throughout the tournament, previously scoring against Panama and netting in the Round of 16 against Mexico.

The equalizer came at a pivotal moment, as Norway had been increasingly threatening in the closing minutes before halftime. Both teams failed to capitalize on their chances in the second half, forcing the match into extra time.

Bellingham later scored again, securing a 2-1 victory and propelling England into a semifinal clash against Argentina.

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