The landlord of an English pub in Norway is expecting a "supercharged" atmosphere tonight as the country of his birth takes on the nation he now calls home. England face Norway in what promises to be one of the standout quarter-finals of the weekend, with fans eagerly anticipating a blockbuster battle between England captain Harry Kane and Norway's all-time top goalscorer Erling Haaland.
At the centre of the football frenzy is The Three Lions, an English pub in Trondheim that has been bringing fans together for international matches for almost three decades. Its landlord, British expat Adrian "Dougie" Douglas, says he has never seen anything quite like the build-up in his 27 years behind the bar. More than 2,500 fans have been trying to bag a spot to watch the match, while supporters began queuing five hours before kick-off. By late afternoon, around 150 people were already waiting outside, hoping to see either The Three Lions or the Lions of Norway through to the semi-finals.
Unprecedented Demand and Festive Atmosphere
“The games here have been absolutely crazy, I’ve never known anything like it,” Mr Douglas said. “We’ve had a party every time England have played and we’ve had a party every time Norway have played.” The 57-year-old, who has five children and met his Norwegian wife Ruth when she previously worked at the pub, said he will be cheering on England despite his ties with the Nordic country. “We’ll be getting a bit of stick from our Norwegian other halves and will have to live with being the best-known England pub around if we lose – there’ll be nowhere to hide! But the Norwegians will be as happy for us to win as they would for their own team, because they love England.”
Extended Hours and Dream Matchup
Mr Douglas has been joined by a band of fellow British ex-pats at the pub, located in Norway’s third city. The pub will be able to stay open until 7am due to a change in licensing laws, meaning fans can watch the game in full. “The way it’s worked out with Norway playing England is a dream come true,” Mr Douglas added. England vs Norway will kick off at 10pm (BST) or 5pm local time at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
