FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — At first, fans performed a synchronized “Viking Line” in the stands during games.
Then it was they Players wearing authentic Viking costumescomplete with weapons, shields and long boats, for a moody and dramatic photo op with the fjord as a backdrop.
“28 years old dream… let’s try it!” Norwegian star Erling Haaland Written on the X platform On Monday, he reposted a team photo of himself with Alfie Haaland, one of his fathers, who played for the 1994 World Cup national team.
Norway is looking to the country’s centuries-old history as its star-studded men’s team, including Haaland and Martin Odegaard, prepare for its first tournament. world cup 28 years later.
It caused a lot of excitement and discussion.
“It was a question or a question (from the cameramen),” Norway coach Starre Solbakken said on Monday ahead of his team’s World Cup opener against Iraq. “The players wanted me to do it. They were positive. The federation was positive. And I was positive on average. And we did it.”
It may be the new “Thunderclap”
As is customary among Norwegian fans, rows of supporters wearing Viking helmets and the team’s red and blue jerseys row forward and backward in unison to the steady beat of the drums.
He is expected to attract attention in Norway’s group matches at the World Cup. foxboro, massachusetts (against Iraq and France) and New Jersey (against Senegal).
This could have a similar effect to the “Thunder Clap” performed by Icelandic fans at the 2016 European Championship, which resonated around the world and has since been used by many other sports teams.
One critic said the photo was “xenophobic”
The Norwegian Football Federation asked British photographer David Yarrow to take snapshots of the Vikings, but he said in an interview with The Athletic that he was aware “there might be some criticism”.
Yarrow was right.
As well as evoking wonder with its breathtaking backdrops and creativity, it has also been controversial to some for evoking the era of Norse Vikings’ raids marked by pillage and plunder – the 800s and 900s.
Markus Sletholm, one of the commentators for the daily Morgenblade, said the photo was xenophobic and “a bit reminiscent of what neo-Nazis were worried about 10 years ago.”
Mr Solbakken doesn’t understand the fuss.
“There are a lot of bigger, more difficult topics,” he said before the World Cup. “I can’t waste my time on that.”
Yarrow has previously worked with Haaland on a solo photo shoot.
The BBC reported that the sale of Viking-themed team photos will raise money for a Norwegian charity.
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Douglas reported from Sundsvall, Sweden.
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AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup
