This year, Norway has thrilled its people and surprised the world. From the fjords of Oslo to the rice fields of Antananarivo, we all held our breath watching their journey.
Because that is what football is all about.
It is the small country that makes the giant doubt.
It is the team no one saw coming, securing a spot in the quarterfinals through sheer heart.
I am not a football fan.
But I am a fan of Norway.
For nearly 22 years, I have had the honor of working with Norwegians and within the Norwegian system (successively at the Embassy, the Embassy Section, and then the Consulate).
22 years of serving, listening, and admiring this country.
22 years where Norway became more than just a job: it became a part of me. This sense of belonging.
So, when I see their team reach the quarterfinals, I don’t just see a match.
I see the same humility, the same quiet strength, and the same team spirit I encountered every day at the office.
It is not a surprise. It is the Norway I know.
Discreet. Hardworking.
I don’t know anything about tactics. But I know about pride.
And today, I am proud. Proud as if it were my own family—like the diplomats who have transitioned from colleagues to friends.
Right now, there are no Norwegians, Malagasy, Brazilians, or Japanese.
There are only lovers of the game. People who get up at impossible hours to watch a match. Children wearing jerseys with names they cannot even pronounce.
By the way, the phonetic pronunciation of the (now) famous Norwegian striker Erling Haaland is [ˈhɔːlan] for Haaland (aa = o), pronounced Holan (with a silent ‘d’). In Norwegian, it is written Håland. His first name, Erling, is pronounced [ˈæːlɪŋ] (Air-ling). A little nod to my Norwegian language teacher at the University of Oslo—around the same time at the 2012 summer school—for his patience with my Malagasy accent, as I made the same mistakes pronouncing ‘å’ as ‘a’ instead of ‘o’.
Norway in the quarterfinals is proof that on the pitch, everyone has a chance. That hard work, solidarity, and faith move mountains… or defenders.
So thank you / tusen takk, Vikings. Whatever happens next, you have already won something: the respect of the entire world. Thank you for reminding us that football is not about GDP or population. It is about passion. And every country has that.
Gratulerer Norge Viking roar
Serge Rasanda
Captured & Published at: 2026-07-07 07:13:21 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/07/la-norvege-epate-le-monde.html