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OSLO, Norway — Wild overnight celebrations erupted across Norway as the men’s national team secured qualification to the World Cup knockout stages and a tide of elated supporters headed to the palace of 89-year-old King Harald V to see if he would join their party.
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Despite the match ending at around 4 a.m. on Tuesday, Norwegian supporters took to the streets to party after seeing their team qualify for the last 32 after a thrilling 3-2 win against Senegal in the second-round match of Group I.
Soccer fever engulfed Oslo, with the capital full of people celebrating the win, even though Tuesday is a normal workday.
A large crowd marched up Oslo’s main thoroughfare toward the royal residence, chanting: “We’re going to wake up the king.” Upon reaching the palace square, hundreds of fans sat on the ground to perform the “Viking rowing” celebration.
The Norwegian Royal House declined to comment on whether the king and Queen Sonja had been awoken by the festivities, or if the monarch had stayed up to watch the match.
It remarked only: “The Royal House rejoices with the rest of the country over the men’s national team’s victory last night.”
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