The event of the year

Already on Saturday, supporters from a small but well-known city in the southeast of Norway, and from an even smaller city even farther south (but unfortunately on the wrong side of the Oslofjord) took off to an adventurous journey into the capital, where the had rented a concert hall to celebrate and prepare for the big event that was yet to come the next day. Amazing. If you hadn't known better, you'd have thought the World Cup had come to Norway (only, why would the World Cup be in such a small country as Norway, where clearly the English team would not have been able to perform due to the extraordinarily tough weather conditions where they either would be disadvantaged due to a limited ability to move when playing in skiing overalls or disadvantaged due to a limited ability to move because of feet freezing to the ground). Anyway, we're getting a bit off track here. I never saw so many people all dressed in the same colours - red and white (or blue and white for the loser team) except for the World Cup in Germany. This, however, was not the World Cup, "only" the Norwegian Cup. Clearly, the Norwegian Cup is a very significant event in this country. As a secret observer from one of the big football nations, i had to admit I was impressed by the level of "spielerische Finesse" that I was shown on this special day. (Why was it again that Norway didn't participate in the World Cup?!?!?!) Though I felt even greater respect for the Fans, who, despite the extraordinarily cold weather (barely above 0 degrees and clearly no English supporters here) supported their teams with "unermuedlichem Gesang aeh, Gegroehle", Flag-waving, holding up scarves, and boo shouts to the other team.
Fortunately, the right team won and my in the beginning very nervous Norwegian boyfriend never stopped smiling for the rest of the day.
Congratulations Fredrikstad and thank you for letting me be part of this special day :-)
(And we had such perfect seats, almost right on the filed...!)







And a very happy special Fredrikstad supporter: