UPDATED: Horns were honking, football fans were celebrating in the streets and national pride went into overdrive, after Norway’s national football team beat Brazil and advanced once again in the World Cup. The team’s impressive performance has electrified an already-patriotic and proud little country.
Even Crown Prince Haakon joined the crowd that sat down in front of the Royal Palace in Oslo just after midnight and launched into yet another ceremonial rowing exercise that symbolizes discipline and unity. His daughter Princess Ingrid Alexandra and son Prince Sverre Magnus were at the stadium just outside New York City where the Norwegian team beat Brazil 2-1, after earlier beating Iraq, Senegal and the Ivory Coast and losing only to France.
Other celebrations were anything but disciplined, as Norwegian fans sang, danced and yelled in the streets. Few had expected Norway to beat the powerful Brazilian team, which has won the World Cup five times. Norway has only qualified for the World Cup twice before, and the last time was 28 year years ago. That’s when it also beat Brazil 2-1 at what was dubbed the “Miracle in Marseilles.”
Now Norway has moved into the quarter finals and will be up against England on Saturday night (July 11), after its other potential opponent, Mexico, dropped out. The match will play out in Miami and once again, because of the time zone difference, Norwegians will be up most of the night to watch it, and perhaps be able to celebrate again.
“We can beat anyone,” Norway’s jubilant head coach Ståle Solbakken told Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) after his team’s latest victory. He was quick to add, though, that “we can also lose to anyone. Now we’ll go back to square one, the guys can loosen up a bit and tomorrow (Monday) we’ll travel to Miami.” If Norway wins again, it will meet either Argentina, Egypt, Switzerland or Colombia in the semi-finals.
Commentators were calling it all a new “Norwegian football miracle” on Sunday night, but it was backed by some of the best players in the world. Goalkeeper Ørjan Håskjold Nyland was the star of the first half, warding off several attempted goals and even a penalty kick from Brazil’s Bruno Guimares. Nyland, who plays professionally for Sevilla, fended off one attempted Brazilian goal after another, prompting NRK football expert Andrine Hegerberg to call him “absolutely sensational.”
Norway’s defense was also strong and then football superstar Erling Braut Haaland came to life, scored twice and became the top scorer in the entire World Cup so far. The normally stoic Haaland, who plays professionally for Manchester City, had tears in his eyes as he told NRK that “I wish I could be out there on the streets, and be involved in all the celebrations. Everyone should enjoy this. All of Norway must enjoy this.” Haaland (pronounced “Hoe-land”) joined others in calling Norway’s fourth World Cup victory “historic:” It’s the first time Norway has made it into the quarter-finals.
The Norwegian team has, however, other top players in addition to Haaland, including Martin Ødegaard who plays for Arsenal, Patrick Berg who plays for Bodø-Glimt and young talent including Antonio Nusa (Leipzig) and Oscar Bobb (Fulham). Solbakken has assembled all the talent and finally formed a national squad that’s become the pride of the nation.
“This victory of course means a lot to me,” Solbakken told NRK, “but I’m being completely honest in saying that for me, the best of all is our fantastic support apparatus and not least our players. Now I think everyone who’s a Norwegian citizen can have the time of their life tonight.”
An estimated 100,000 of them were out in the streets of the capital late Sunday night, partying from the palace grounds to farther downtown and in the neighbourhoods. Similar celebrations erupted all over the country after fans had assembled at many outdoor and indoor gatherings to watch the action together on large screens. The crowd sang along with Norway’s national anthem, and spontaneous anthem-singing also erupted after the match.
International reaction was strong as well, with major media quickly reporting on Norway’s victory and Brazil’s defeat. “The Vikings came and conquered America,” read the headline in the Spanish newspaper Marca, while Sky Sports reported that Brazil was “shocked” when Haaland’s “master class” sent Norway to the quarter finals.
ESPN reported that Haaland had delivered a “world class” performance and Fox Sports noted that “the Vikings” had beaten a champion “senseless,” but no one should be surprised.
Danish TV2, meanwhile, called Norway’s victory Sunday night “the greatest thing that’s ever happened in Norwegian football history, and it’s happened in a completely magical manner.” For Norwegians themselves, the World Cup has become another unifying factor in a country already known for its strong social welfare system, patriotism and fellowship in an otherwise troubled world. Goalkeeper Nydalen’s extraordinary performance was dubbed by NRK commentator Kristoffer Løkberg as a feat of defense “for all eternity. It was so important.”
NewsinEnglish.no/Nina Berglund
