12 July 2026SideLine · sports news, rewritten
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Norway Coach Credits Overhead Wires for England's Equalizer

By SideLine Desk ·
Norway Coach Credits Overhead Wires for England's Equalizer
Illustration: SideLine

Norway's coach, Stale Solbakken, humorously suggested that the overhead wires were responsible for England's game-tying goal. Despite FIFA's ball sensor technology indicating no such contact, Solbakken felt the ball dropped "straight from heaven" to set up Jude Bellingham's decisive brace.

Norway's manager, Stale Solbakken, has pointed to an unusual contributor for England's pivotal equalizer in their quarter-final clash: the overhead wires. He playfully suggested the wires earned an assist as the ball descended "straight from heaven" to level the score, a claim made even as FIFA's ball sensor technology registered no external impact.

The match, which saw England emerge victorious with a 2-1 scoreline after extra time, was a tense affair played in the humid conditions of Miami. Norway had initially taken the lead through Andreas Schjelderup's impressive cross-shot, but Bellingham's two goals ultimately sealed their fate in the dramatic quarter-final encounter.

Solbakken's comments highlight the frustration and perhaps a touch of disbelief surrounding the moment that shifted the momentum of the game. While official technology found no fault, the Norwegian coach's observation offers a colourful perspective on a turning point that proved costly for his side.

💬 SideLine Take

While a humorous take, the coach's comments about the overhead wire underscore the unpredictable nature of football and perhaps a veiled critique of technology's limitations in capturing every nuance of a game.

AI-assisted rewrite. This story was written by the SideLine Desk from the reporting below and reviewed by our editors — read the original for the full story. How we work.
Source: Yahoo Sports

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