The UK government has circled Friday, July 24, as a potential extra bank holiday if England can pull off a World Cup victory. This proposed celebration would arrive 60 years after England's sole previous triumph in the competition, with the final showdown scheduled for next Sunday, July 19.
Bellingham Delivers in Nail-Biter Against Norway
England took a massive stride toward that final, but it wasn't easy, clinching a hard-fought 2-1 win over Norway on Saturday night after extra time. Who stepped up? None other than Jude Bellingham, who once again saved the day with a crucial brace. The match was a rollercoaster: Andreas Schjelderup put Norway ahead in the 36th minute, only for Bellingham to equalize at 45+2" off an assist from Anthony Gordon. The tension ramped up when a second Norwegian goal was ruled out at 57" following a VAR review. Nine minutes of additional play in regulation weren't enough to separate the sides, pushing them into extra time. Bellingham wasted no time, scoring again early in extra time, leaving England to defend its lead for nearly half an hour. Norway even swapped out star striker Erling Haaland for Crystal Palace's Jørgen Strand Larsen, but it wasn't enough. Fans like Russell Osborne, 34, from Birmingham, summed it up perfectly: "the result was all that mattered" even if the team's performance felt "leggy."The Bank Holiday Debate Rages On
This potential bank holiday isn't just a fan dream; it's a real debate among politicians. The prime minister, asked about it at the Nato summit in Ankara earlier this week, hinted it was "on the cards." Sir Keir Starmer chimed in on Wednesday, saying he didn't want to "jinx it," but suggested reporters "ask me again if we get to the final." Not everyone is convinced, though. Andy Burnham, who some tip to replace Sir Keir, called the bank holiday speculation "a bit premature" a week ago after England's "strained win" against the Democratic Republic of Congo on July 1. Burnham, an Evertonian, admitted, "I do not ever back anything when it comes to football, I don't do it with England either." Kemi Badenoch on Monday openly stated she "would probably not back" such a holiday, arguing that "the private sector would still be working and the public sector would take the day off, and you'd all have to pay for it." Clearly, the political playbook is split! So, what's next for the Three Lions? They've got a massive semi-final clash against Argentina on Wednesday, kicking off at 8pm BST. Win that, and they'll face either Spain or France in the final on July 19; France is currently the narrow favorite against Spain for their Tuesday night game. Remember, a bank holiday has been floated before, like when fans called for one after the Lionesses won the Euros last year, but that only led to a parade and a Downing Street visit. This time, with Bellingham on fire, the stakes are even higher, and an actual day off could be on the line!This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.