France vs Norway watchalong (PC: Screengrab) This was one of the most anticipated group-stage matches of the World Cup, a contest fans around the world had been looking forward to for months. But when the team sheets were announced, it was as though a pin had burst the giant balloon of excitement. StåleSolbakken, the Norway coach made sweeping changes, with Erling Haaland among the ten players left cooling their heels on the bench.

For a watchalong billed as Kylian Mbappé versus Haaland, it was the worst possible start. It would have been easy for the on-air talent to feel as deflated as some of the fans in the stadium. Instead, they kept the energy levels high with witty banter as the game got under way.

Fortunately, the first half provided enough thrilling moments to keep everyone engaged. Ousmane Dembélé scored a hat-trick of exceptional quality, while Norway responded with a superb goal of their own. Those on the watchalong played their part too, breaking into a hilarious rendition of the now-iconic Viking-row celebration.

What stood out even more was the response from viewers. Hundreds of well-informed and funny comments flooded the channel, with fans displaying not only their sense of humour but also an impressive knowledge of football history and the game’s nuances. The second half fizzled out somewhat on the pitch, but not in the studio.

The jokes continued to come thick and fast. During the half-time break, the panel had made Dalima Chhibber imagine what she would say if she was in the Norwegian dressing room, and how she would motivate the French players if they were being addressed. For less-informed viewers, it offered a fascinating glimpse into what happens behind closed doors during the interval in professional football.

As it turned out, Haaland never came off the bench and Mbappé was substituted later in the game. By then, however, the watchalong had long since created its own entertainment. With both teams having already secured their places in the knockout stages, Désiré Doué’s late goal to seal a 4-1 victory for France was little more than a statistical footnote.

Rohan Joshi, Sakshi Shivdasani, Varun Thakur, KaashviHiranandani and Dalima kept viewers entertained for close to three hours before signing off with one final Viking row. We have a feeling it will not be the last time we see that celebration at this tournament. For latest sports updates: Follow The post appeared first on .