The Sun has stormed a Viking longboat used by Norway's footballers for a fearsome promo shoot, flying the England flag and wearing the team shirt in a nearby village while learning local fighting techniques and tactics. The stunt came ahead of tomorrow's crucial World Cup quarter-final, with the newspaper then settling into Oslo's best English pub – named after Winston Churchill – and putting up the St George's Cross after bosses declared they would support Norway.
The longboat, a centrepiece of Norway's intimidating pre-tournament imagery, features Erling Haaland as leader, banging a drum to signal the others to row. Stars including Arsenal skipper Martin Odegaard wielded shields and weapons such as spears, swords and bows. The Sun claimed the boat in Tonsberg, Norway's oldest city, prompting crew member Sten Sjostrand, 58, to admit he feared the odds were “50/50”.
“The Sun storms Norway's Viking longboat ahead of World Cup quarter-final; Haaland among stars who could have played for England.”
From there the Sun marched to a Viking village, taking archery lessons and hitting a bullseye to inspire Thomas Tuchel's troops. Warrior Ane Marie Hoffa offered tactical advice: “Spears were best for hunting. In war, it is dumb to throw away your weapon.” Cleaner Embla Sorvik said of the feast hall: “This is where Vikings would gather for big events. This is where they would watch the football if they were here today.” Asked about the battle ahead, she added: “I’m not scared of any of the English players. Not Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane or anyone. England’s players should be scared of Erling Haaland.”
The Sun's stunt highlights a peculiar irony: Haaland is among a host of World Cup stars who could have represented England but chose other nations. According to the i newspaper, an alternative England XI can be formed from players at this tournament who are not in Tuchel's squad. Haaland, Michael Olise and Antoine Semenyo top the list. Others include Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who switched to DR Congo in 2025 after just one England call-up, and Axel Tuanzebe, whose injury-hit career prevented him from fulfilling his potential at Manchester United. Crystal Palace's Owen Goodman, who played for Canada and England's youth sides, finally secured Canadian citizenship in late 2025 to join the World Cup co-hosts.
England's strength in depth is almost unmatched, only bettered by France – yet these players chose other paths. As Norway's Viking drum beats tomorrow, English fans may wonder what might have been.
