To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web
browser that
supports HTML5
video
As pubs across the country are flooded by white shirts this Saturday, there will be one red sore thumb sticking out in London.
Norway’s expats will cheer on their national side against England at their ‘fortress’ – a small quaint pub in Hackney, east London.
The Kenton Pub was the scene of wild celebrations last week when the Nordic team shocked Brazil to advance to the World Cup quarter-finals.
Now the venue’s owner, expat Egil Johansen, is gearing up for a boisterous and busy affair as punters cheer for a Three Lions defeat this weekend.
The trendy pub has already hit the news for Egil’s decision to ban children from the venue.
But its their roaring support for Norway’s football team that has earned The Kenton fresh attention, including from the country’s national broadcaster.
Decked in the red and white flag, around 200 expats crammed in last Sunday and watched Norway defeat Brazil 2-1.
Egil said: ‘It was unbelievable. It was absolutely pumping. It was unbelievable.
‘When Norway scored first, it literally erupted. You can imagine the scenes.’
The crowd were even rowing, a phenomenon echoing the country’s Viking days which has taken over supporters around the world.
The Norway faithful in The Kenton are the very opposite of hostile,’ the owner explained.
‘One Brazilian guy arrived with a Brazil shirt and a drum. We got to borrow his drum and we cheered him on.’
Egil, who came to the UK 25 years ago, took over the pub in 2009, sprucing up the traditional Victorian building with an array of Norwegian memorabilia.
For starters there is a massive moose head on the wall, which his grandfather shot back in he 1970s.
The number of Norwegians in London numbers just in the thousands, but they have flocked to The Kenton as their screening venue of choice.
Egil said: ‘We have made it a Norwegian fortress for the football.
‘Like every nation, you want to watch the game with a lot of people from the same place, to get the atmosphere and sing the songs.
‘We have had people coming from Peckham, kensington, north London, and a couple of people coming from Surrey.
‘With England games, we do get a load of English fans, including regulars and locals, but we have not reached capacity for those matches.’
That looks set to change now England and Norway square off.
‘There will be loads of people coming to us to watch the match. I think it will be magical.
‘On Saturday I just wish we had twice the size of the pub, the main challenge will be fitting everyone in.’
The World Cup can sometimes trigger rowdy scenes, but The Kenton is confident any England fans who come will fit in to the friendly atmosphere.
Egil said: ‘It will obviously get heated, when the game starts, because we all want to win.
‘I do hope it will be very civil, regardless of who wins.
‘We do not want any sort of trouble. Luckily we are a pub that does not have much trouble.’
The owner recalls the 2014 final between Germany and Argentina, which saw more than 100 Argentinians watching on alongside just a handful of their opponents.
Even though Germany won in extra time, both sides remained polite, and the Argentinians left ‘quietly and peacefully’.
The red and blue crowd at The Kenton this Saturday, donning Viking horns, will be confident their side can upset the Three Lions.
Their hopes will rest on Halaand, the Man City striker who is a national hero back home.
Egil said: ‘He is massive in Norway, everyone loves him. He is very humble. He talks a lot about Norwegian kids being inspired and wanting to play with a Norwegian badge on their shirt.
‘I definitely thing we can win the match. I think it will be a really even game.
‘Hopefully we can open each other up and get some good play.’
Just like Haaland, many Norwegians have a close affinity to English football.
In fact in the Nordic country they have been showing English top flight football on TV since the 1960s.
So for expats like Egil – a Tottenham supporter – there will be a conflict of loyalty.
He said: ‘I feel very British. I have been living in this country for 25 years, I have a wife from Manchester.
‘I have always supported of England in tournaments. There will be a little bit of a dilemma now. Win or lose, I will support England if they win.
‘Norway and England have a strong bound.’
Whatever the outcome on Saturday, Norwegian fans in the Kenton can celebrate history.
Before this World Cup, Norway only ever made it to three World Cups and have never reached the quarter finals before.
Whether they will make the semis remains to be seen.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.