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 football is like that. It's the small country that makes the giant doubt itself. It's the team nobody saw coming that earns its place in the quarter-finals through sheer heart.
I'm not a football fan. But I am a fan of Norway.
For nearly 22 years, I 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 in which Norway became more than just a posting: a part of me. That sense of belonging.
So when I see their team reach the quarter-finals, I don't just see a match. I see the same humility, the same quiet strength, the same team spirit I encountered every day at the office. It's not a surprise. It's the Norway I know. Discreet. Hardworking.
I know nothing about tactics. But I know about pride. And today, I am proud. Proud as if it were my own family—like some 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 waking up at ungodly hours to watch a match. Children wearing jerseys with names they can't pronounce.
Incidentally, the phonetic pronunciation of the now-famous Norwegian team striker Erling Haaland is [ˈhɔːlan] for Haaland (aa = o), pronounced Holan (d silent). In Norwegian, it's written Håland. His first name Erling is pronounced [ˈæːlɪŋ] (Air-ling). A small nod to my Norwegian language professor at the University of Oslo—around the same period at summer school in 2012—for his patience with my Malagasy accent, as I myself made the same mistakes pronouncing "å" as "o."
Norway in the quarter-finals proves that on a pitch, everyone has a chance. That work, solidarity, and faith move mountains... or defenders.
So thank you / tusen takk, Vikings. Whatever comes next, you've already won something: the respect of the entire world. Thank you for reminding us that football doesn't speak of GDP or population. It speaks of passion. And every country has that.
Gratulerer Norge Viking roar
Serge Rasanda