What do historic figures like Lord Nelson, Sir Winston Churchill, and Lady Diana have in common? On September 9, 1981, they all faced defeat at the hands of Norway, at least according to the legendary Norwegian radio commentator Bjørge Lillelien. His exuberant and somewhat eccentric commentary following Norway’s 2-1 victory over England in a World Cup qualifier has become a cherished moment in Norwegian sports history, earning recognition abroad as well. The Observer even dubbed it the greatest commentary ever in 2002.
“We have beaten England! England, the birthplace of giants!” Lillelien exclaimed, following up with a list of those giants. While Henry Cooper might seem an unusual choice among such prominent figures, Lillelien’s passion for boxing explained his inclusion. “Maggie Thatcher, can you hear me? I have a message for you, in the middle of your election campaign. I have a message for you … As they say in the boxing bars around Madison Square Garden in New York: your boys took a hell of a beating! Your boys took a hell of a beating!”
In making those remarks, Lillelien switched to English, ensuring that Thatcher could potentially hear his spirited announcement.
To some English listeners at the time, Lillelien’s excitement may have appeared excessive. Norway was not the only team to defeat England in 1981; earlier that year, England had also lost to Switzerland, Scotland, Spain, and Brazil, and had drawn with Wales and Romania. The previous year, they faced defeats against Romania, Italy, and Wales. England was not exactly a dominant force. Yet, in the hearts of Norwegian football fans, England held a special significance that transcended England’s struggles.
Since November 1969, the Norwegian public broadcasting service, NRK, had been airing live matches from the English first division during the winter months when Norwegian football was halted due to weather. With only one television channel available, every viewer eager to watch on Saturdays tuned in to English football, which captivated the entire nation.
“We would learn on Wednesday what game was going to be shown on NRK at the weekend, and there was a lot of excitement around that,” recalls Øyvind Alsaker, who will be commentating on Saturday’s World Cup quarter-final against England for Norwegian broadcaster TV2. “Would your team be shown?”
Alsaker, born in 1969, represents the first generation that grew up watching these games. “You would run outside and pretend to be Keegan and Toshack and all of these heroes,” he reminisces. However, not all matches showcased the top teams. On January 14, 1978, for instance, NRK unexpectedly broadcast a second division match featuring Mansfield against Southampton, which must have bewildered many Norwegian viewers.
This exposure led Norwegians to form emotional connections with even the most unexpected clubs. Gabriel Høyland, who is Erling Haaland’s great uncle and has 23 caps for Norway, is a devoted Burnley supporter. Meanwhile, Kasper Wikestad, who provided commentary for Norway’s recent win against Brazil, identifies as a Norwich fan. He explains that many Norwegians grew up viewing England as the pinnacle of football. “It was the sound, the smell, the stars; it was the atmosphere, it was the chants from the stands,” he reflects. “It was our promised land. It felt so close, but at the same time so far away.”
While England was experiencing a rough patch in 1981, Norway itself was not in great shape. “It was a Norwegian national team that hadn’t been to a tournament in any kind of way since the 1938 Olympics,” Wikestad notes. “England were our idols and our reference point. For Norwegians at that time, England and English football was like a dream. How good England were, how big the stars were, everything to do with England was huge. The idea that we could beat England at football in a qualifying match, it was a totally unrealistic dream.”
Lillelien was known for his entertaining style. “He was a man who made boring games fun,” Alsaker states. “We would turn on the sound from the radio, and watch the game on with the TV on mute.” As Norway took a 2-1 lead and aimed to secure a historic victory against England, Lillelien was already on edge. When Phil Neal fouled local hero Tom Lund, Lillelien erupted, labeling Neal “The thug Phil Neal kicks Tommy from behind! Phil ‘pig’ Neal! Start retaliating! The English have thugs both in the stands and on the pitch!” He exclaimed, “The referee keeps adding and adding and adding, he is on track for an English citizenship!”
As the match approached the end of regulation time, Lillelien expressed frustration at the Polish referee Jerzy Kacprzak for not ending the game sooner. “Norway have beaten England 2-1 at football! We are the best in the world!” But just as this comment was made, Kacprzak finally blew the whistle, prompting Lillelien to erupt once more. “We now have three generations of Norwegians who have received English football intravenously,” And the rest is history.
“It feels unreal. When I look at what I’ve experienced with the Norwegian national team over the last 25 years, it feels unreal that this is happening. I thought reaching the round of 16 was fantastic. And now we are playing to be one of the top four teams at a World Cup. It’s wild. This is a responsibility I approach with great humility. So many Norwegians will be following this, and I hope to do a good job.”
“Norway-England, of all things. A week ago, we thought it couldn’t get bigger than Norway-Brazil, but there you go.”
For Norwegians, no opponent on the football field could ever mean more than England.
- Norway
- World Cup 2026
- World Cup
- England
- features
