Defender Van Toi: 'Bellingham is the difference for the England team'

The last set of quarterfinal games ended with plots unfit for those with weak hearts. The English team narrowly overcame the Norwegian phenomenon due to the dazzling display of Jude Bellingham.

Meanwhile, defending champions Argentina also secured a spot in the next round by fully exploiting their numerical advantage after Switzerland's Breel Embolo received a red card in the 72nd minute.

From a defender's tactical perspective, center-back Dang Van Toi (Nam Dinh Club) provided deep insights into the resilience of the "Three Lions" under coach Thomas Tuchel: "This was an extremely breathtaking match for England as Norway accepted a direct, back-and-forth battle.

In the first half, despite England actively controlling possession with up to 68%, their effectiveness was nearly zero as they managed only three shots. Conversely, Norway, with less ball control, posed high danger in each of their counterattacks.

Andreas Schjelderup's opening goal was a deserved reward for the confidence and counterattacking pressure created by the Nordic representatives. If not for Jude Bellingham's star-like rescue moment at the end of the first half, the match might have slipped out of England's hands.

Although Norway's defenders marked him tightly, they were helpless against the classy handling of the number 10 midfielder. In the second half, England's play slackened, failing to register a single shot on target and allowing the opponent to regain control.

However, early in the first extra time, it was Bellingham again who shone, deciding the match with a genius individual moment. Under coach Tuchel's guidance, England is displaying a highly pragmatic, tough, and efficient approach, focusing on the effectiveness of ball situations rather than getting caught up in possession control." Alongside the "Three Lions'" comeback, the former Hanoi club center-back also pointed out the fatal mistake that ruined Switzerland's chance to surprise Argentina: "Embolo's red card was the turning point that completely changed the match's dynamics.

Switzerland played an extremely fair game, and their attacking moves even posed greater danger than the South American representatives. However, Embolo's mistake, having already received a yellow card earlier, was inexcusable.

In crucial matches, top players must be aware of their behavior to avoid putting their team in jeopardy. Having to play a man down for such a long period late in the game completely drained the Swiss defensive system's stamina. The inevitable result was the emergence of gaps, and Julian Alvarez punished them with a world-class angled shot from a tight angle. Switzerland could have caused an upset if not for that harmful red card."

With these results, two football powerhouses, England and Argentina, will face each other directly in the semifinals. The dream clash between Lionel Messi and Harry Kane is scheduled to take place at 2:00 AM on July 16 (Vietnam time).