Article #59021

At the final whistle in New Jersey Norway’s players collapsed on to the rain-drenched grass, tumbled over one another in a genuinely passionate celebratory embrace, then gathered to sit in close formation in front of their fans like primary school kids in a particularly cramped assembly hall.

Off to one side Martin Ødegaard began to beat on a drum provided for the occasion, while the players and staff did the Viking-rowing-boat-plus-Icelandic-style-hu-cheer in concert with their fans, a routine the Norwegians have been rolling out at this World Cup.