7/15/26  The Agony of Defeat

We have really enjoyed being in Norway during the World Cup. I had always heard that other countries took the World Cup seriously, but I had no idea. It just isn't the same in the US. Super Bowl Sunday doesn't even come close. In America, we enjoy having parties at home to watch the Super Bowl, but in Norway, it is an even greater collective experience. The towns we visited were preparing for it way in advance. Giant screens were set up in town squares with lines and lines of picnic tables, beer concessions, and giant speakers (not to mention funky Scandinavian-style porta-potties). 

For one of the matches (Norway v Brazil), we were in the town of Farsund. Because of the time difference, the matches start at 10 or 11 o'clock over here. We had to get up at 4:00 AM the next morning to make a long run before some bad weather, so we didn't go. Well, we got so much grief from friends and family that for the Norway v England match, we chose the town of Strusshamn because Nico knew they had a good community center and there would be a good scene. Strusshamn didn't disappoint. Around 5:00 PM, there was a pounding of drums, and a Viking ship glided into the harbor, blasting rap music in Norwegian. Although it used a motor, the passengers were wearing furs and helmets and in full pillage mode. 

Around 10:00, things really got going with flashing lights, long lines for $11 beers, and pounding music. Judging from the crowd, I believe there had been a bit of pre-gaming. Everyone there wore team shirts and crocheted Norwegian team hats. So much red! I loved the shirts with the names on the back in Viking-style runic letters. Women danced with each other on the stage, and later, after the first goal, on the tables. Suddenly, horns blared and "the Vikings" filed in. They led us in The Row and sang the Norwegian National Anthem. There was such national pride in this match. Norway is a small country, and they haven't gone so far in the World Cup standings against the great soccer powerhouses in a long, long time. How wonderful to see such pride in a country. Erling Haaland is a hero and a good sport. The pregame show was all about his good deeds, especially the things he does for children.  (How about his taxidermy raccoon with a whiskey bottle?) The Norwegian Football Federation donated all ticket revenues from their match against Israel to humanitarian aid to Gaza. They are good role models!

It was sad to see the mood of the huge room change from such jubilation after the first goal to quiet despair when the ref discounted the second goal. At the end, everyone filed out and quiet decended upon the harbor in the early morning hour.