Uprooted Trees and Toppled Posts After Norway's World Cup Success

Thousands of Norwegian fans joined a massive celebration in central Oslo last night, featuring the now-famous "Viking rowing" chant, after their team eliminated Ivory Coast in the World Cup Round of 16. However, the night of boisterous, impromptu festivities revealed a different side to the usually calm Scandinavians, with significant damage to the subway and city streets reported the following morning. The enormous crowd, dressed in red, white, and blue, spread across a vast area, occupying the space from the Royal Palace for hundreds of meters along Karl Johans gate – the city's main thoroughfare. They performed the synchronized rowing gesture that has become a trademark of Norwegian fans at this year's World Cup matches. Oslo's streets filled with people immediately after the 2-1 victory over the African side was secured.

Near the Royal Palace, overzealous revelers uprooted plants and knocked down fence posts. "I dread to think what will happen if we reach the final," said royal gardener Ole Johan Hildre to Norwegian broadcaster NRK. Public transport officials had to take subway cars out of service for repairs after fans tore down advertisements and damaged ceilings during their post-match excitement and merriment.

"It's a shame that people get so carried away that it affects our equipment. After all, this is city property and belongs to all of us, purchased with a large portion of our taxes," Gina Scholz, communications manager for transport operator Sporveien, told the television station, adding with a smile: "But it was a fantastic evening!" The team's success is certainly not just a priority for those directly interested in football. More than two million of Norway's approximately 5.5 million inhabitants watched the match against Ivory Coast, according to estimates from TV2 – the broadcaster holding the World Cup rights in the Scandinavian country.