If all goes to plan, the football World Cup begins on Thursday, 11 June, in the United States, Canada and Mexico, with all 48 participating teams having announced their squads. Before heading to the US, Norway’s football team has landed in trouble over an official photoshoot on an Oslo beach. The team took part in the shoot in “Viking” costumes made of animal hide, drawing public anger — who knew the costume would split Norwegians in two?
A Norwegian newspaper sharply criticised the shoot, saying posing in “Viking” costume reflected extreme nationalism, and described the team’s behaviour as “neo-Norse.” A researcher named Jane Hong Skoldin called the players’ act a “display of aggressive masculinity,” saying: “It is actually an example of a right-wing mindset.” The tension grew so much that Norway coach Stale Solbakken faced questions about it at a press conference, though he said: “I don’t want to waste my time talking about the photoshoot.”
This is the first time Norway will appear at a FIFA World Cup since 1998. Having failed to qualify for the intervening six World Cups, the team of Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard is now ending that drought and entering world football’s biggest stage.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report