Norway Players Get Warm Welcome After World Cup Exit

About 90,000 people welcomed Norway’s team back to Oslo on Monday. They returned home after reaching the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time.

Erling Haaland’s team lost 2-1 to England in extra time on Saturday. This was their best performance in the tournament so far.

The crowd filled the square in front of the royal palace in Oslo as the players arrived. They performed the famous “Viking Row” to celebrate.

Crown Prince Haakon, the heir to Norway’s throne, led the celebration with a drum. He was also at the match in Miami where Norway lost.

“It’s simply incredible to see all the support we receive and to see how much the country is behind us,” captain Martin Odegaard told NRK, the public broadcaster.

“It’s really fantastic,” added the Arsenal player.

Haaland landed in Norway earlier that day. He was seen on social media walking from the plane while holding a stuffed raccoon. The raccoon had a glass bottle of alcohol in its claws.

NRK reported that the Manchester City striker, who scored seven goals in the World Cup, could not stay for the celebration. He had a flight to catch.