The Norwegian national football team's flight from the United States was delayed by several hours. So when the national team was to be celebrated by up to 120,000 Norwegians in Oslo, the biggest star, Erling Haaland, was not there. He and Sander Berge instead took a private flight to Sicily.
According to VG, he was going on vacation, but the Italian newspaper La Sicilia writes that Haaland was invited as guest of honor at Dolce & Gabbana's annual fashion show in Taormina.
However, sociologist Trond Blindheim does not believe that the fact that fans were not allowed to see and cheer for their great hero will damage Haaland's reputation.
"The kids might be a little disappointed that he wasn't there, but I think they'll forgive him given his performance on the field," says Blindheim.
He is the great hero of this World Cup. He is more popular than the king.
Norway reached the quarter-finals of a World Cup for the first time ever, where they lost to England 2-1 after extra time.
The return to Oslo was therefore celebrated in a big way. First the team met King Harald, and Haaland and Berge were there, and then the team rode in a motorcade along Karl Johans gate and then met supporters at Slottsplassen to wave.
