What connects figures such as Lord Nelson, Lord Beaverbrook, Sir Winston Churchill, Sir Anthony Eden, Clement Attlee, Henry Cooper, and Lady Diana? On September 9, 1981, they all faced defeat at the hands of Norway.
This assertion comes from the legendary Norwegian radio commentator Bjørge Lillelien, whose exuberant and somewhat eccentric commentary following Norway’s 2-1 victory over England in a Euro 82 qualifier has become a cherished part of Norwegian sports history. The moment has even gained a cult following internationally, with the Observer labeling it the greatest commentary ever in 2002.
“We have defeated England! The birthplace of giants!” Lillelien exclaimed, proceeding to name some of those giants. Although Henry Cooper might seem an unusual inclusion alongside prominent political figures and Lady Diana, Lillelien was known for his fondness for boxing. “Margaret Thatcher, can you hear me? I have a message for you amid your election campaign. As they say in the boxing bars around Madison Square Garden, your boys took a hell of a beating!” He switched to English for the last part, presumably in hopes that Thatcher might actually be listening.
At the time, Lillelien’s enthusiastic reaction may have appeared exaggerated to some English spectators. After all, Norway was not the only team to defeat England that year; England also suffered losses to Switzerland, Scotland, Spain, and Brazil, and drew matches against Wales and Romania. In the previous year, they faced defeats from Romania, Italy, and Wales. Clearly, England was not invincible. However, in 1981, Norway held a unique admiration for English football that no series of poor results could tarnish.
Since November 1969, the Norwegian public broadcaster NRK had been airing live matches from the English first division during the winter months, when domestic football in Norway was on hold due to weather conditions. With only one television channel available, anyone wishing to watch TV on Saturday afternoons inevitably tuned into English football, creating a nationwide fascination.
“We would find out on Wednesday which match would be broadcast on NRK over the weekend, and there was much anticipation surrounding it,” recalls Øyvind Alsaker, who will be commentating on Norway’s upcoming World Cup quarter-final against England for TV2. “Would your team be featured?”
Alsaker, born in 1969, belongs to the first generation to grow up watching these matches. “We would rush outside to play, pretending to be players like Keegan and Toshack,” he reflects. Yet, not every match featured the star teams; for example, NRK once aired a second-division game between Mansfield and Southampton, which must have puzzled Norwegian viewers.
This exposure led many in Norway to form unexpected loyalties to lesser-known clubs. Gabriel Høyland, the great-uncle of footballer Erling Haaland, is a devoted Burnley fan, while commentator Kasper Wikestad, who called Norway’s victory over Brazil this week, supports Norwich City. He represents a generation of Norwegians who idolized English football. “It was the sounds, the atmosphere, the chants; it was our promised land—close yet so far away,” he reminisces.
While England was experiencing a rough patch in 1981, Norway’s national team had not qualified for any major tournaments since the 1938 Olympics. “We looked up to England as our idols and benchmarks,” Wikestad explains. “For us, English football represented a dream; the idea of beating England in a qualifying match seemed completely unrealistic.”
Lillelien was known for his engaging style as a commentator. “He had a knack for making dull games entertaining,” Alsaker states. “We would mute the TV and listen to the radio.” As Norway took a 2-1 lead and held onto it for a historic victory, Lillelien’s excitement grew. When English player Phil Neal fouled Norwegian hero Tom Lund, Lillelien called Neal “a pig.” “Phil ‘pig’ Neal kicks Tommy from behind! Start retaliating! The English have thugs both on the pitch and in the stands!” he shouted.
As the match approached its conclusion, Lillelien felt the Polish referee, Jerzy Kacprzak, was taking too long to signal the end. “The referee keeps adding time; he must be on his way to gain English citizenship!” he quipped. Just as he made this remark, Kacprzak finally blew the whistle, prompting Lillelien to exclaim, “Norway has defeated England 2-1! We are the best in the world!” The rest is history.
Today, the passion for English football remains strong among Norwegians. Children aspire to play in England more than at clubs like Barcelona or Real Madrid. “We now have three generations of Norwegians who have absorbed English football,” Alsaker notes. As he prepares to commentate on Saturday, he is keenly aware of the significance of the moment.
