EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — erling haaland He led the Norwegian fans by playing the drums. viking row It has become a distinctive part of the World Cup.
After celebrating led the country to the quarterfinals As he scored both goals in a 2-1 win over Brazil on Sunday to make his first appearance in the competition, his thoughts went to scenes back home where tens of thousands of Norwegians were partying late into the night.
And, of course, Viking Law will be performing himself.
“Look at the streets of Norway,” Haaland said. “I’ve never experienced anything like this before. I wish I was in Oslo right now celebrating with everyone.”
Thanks to his team-mates, the Manchester City striker racked up goals in the United States, making this the best World Cup in the history of the Norwegian men’s national team.
This unlikely run has taken a further leap forward. Defeated 5-time champion Brazil inspires pride in the stadiums and streets where matches are played, and in fans across the Scandinavian country of just over 5.5 million people.
According to the city council, as many as 50,000 people watched the match against Brazil at Radusplassen (the square outside City Hall) in Oslo, the capital of Norway. Crown Prince Haakon, wearing a Norwegian soccer scarf around his neck, met a crowd of fans outside the Royal Palace and was also seen joining the group Viking Row after the match.
Fireworks were set off at Ullevaar Stadium, home of the Norwegian national team, and more than a thousand people sat at long tables to watch the match.
“The whole country is rowing together,” coach Stolle Solbakken said. “We have great parties here, in Oslo, and in cities big and small all over Norway. Rowing is, in a way, a symbol of that and of us coming together.”
Crowds of fans wearing the red, white and blue colors of the flag turned rowing into a viral sensation. take over times square He does it in the stands at New York Mets baseball games. They will have a chance to watch at least one more match against Norway. england They have a chance to advance to the semifinals on Saturday in suburban Miami.
“We have to keep our feet on the ground,” said captain Martin Odegaard. “We’ve shown that we can beat anyone and we really enjoy what we’re doing. We’re having fun, and anything is possible in football. So keep putting your feet on the floor and keep working hard and see what happens and just go with the flow.”
This will be Norway’s fourth appearance at the World Cup, but their first since 1998, having failed to qualify in each of the previous six. Haaland, who turns 26 on July 21, joked that no one could blame him for past defeats when he wasn’t playing, although he wasn’t even born at the time.
“You can blame me for coming here,” Haaland said. His seven goals in his first World Cup put him tied with Argentina’s Lionel Messi and France’s Kylian Mbappé. “I can’t believe it. I’m so proud. I’m proud of my country and I’m proud of everyone.”
Indeed, it has been a fairytale season in Norwegian football, with Bodø/Glimt, a small team playing in an 8,000-seater stadium, producing the best of the competition. special story He qualified for the Champions League and has been active in European games for many years. Defeat top teams one after anotherincluding Haaland’s Man City, reach the knockout stage.
The men’s national team is now taking center stage in its first major international tournament since 2000. The players are trying to emulate the Norwegian women’s team, which won the World Cup in 1995 and has long been the top international team.
Haaland said many times after defeating Brazil that he could not believe such a victory was possible and that it was beyond his wildest dreams to achieve it.
He also hopes that Norway’s success goes beyond this year and inspires children to want to represent their country.
“I actually also want to foster a culture of pride in playing for the national team. I think if you play for Norway you should play with pride and we should foster this kind of attitude in young people,” Haaland said.
“I want the children watching me now to be like me, and I want them to play with dignity when they grow up.”
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Douglas reported from Sundsvall, Sweden.
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See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here
