CNN
–
After traveling thousands of miles across the continent to watch a football match, you won’t often see your neighbors, but Bod/Grimt is not your usual soccer team.
Certainly that was true for supporters of the Norwegian club on Thursday. They traveled with thousands from just north of the Arctic to London, watching the team play the first leg of the Europa League semifinals with the British Premier League side Tottenham.
As a city, Bodeau is very different from London. In fact, the entire population could fit comfortably in Tottenham’s new, world-famous stadium.
It’s probably not surprising that Bodø fans continue to see familiar faces far from home.
“Everyone knows each other. I just saw the neighbors,” Bod/Grimm fan Leah Rasan told CNN Sports while waiting to enter the stadium on Thursday.
“Sound is really big for the city right now. Everyone supports every game more than ever. That means a lot. It’s really exciting.”
Rasan was one of the thousands who were fascinated by the team’s recent success.
She remembers the club bouncing back decades between Norwegian soccer’s lower divisions before it finally reached a winning formula in recent seasons.
For example, this year, the team has already made history by becoming the first Norwegian side to reach the semi-finals of European competition.
Like Lathan, Vejre Vereide traveled from Norway with his wife and two children to watch the match. The family lives in a village near Bodeau and enjoys the team seeing “flowers” and becoming real power.
“They’re an interesting team, they’re very aggressive and blooming in Norway,” Bereid told CNN as he hurriedly asked his excited young daughter to enter the stadium.
“They are big losers, so it’s very exciting to see them, and they have that amazing spirit.
“Of course Norway is known for sports such as cross-country skiing, but football is a huge, global sport and we’re very excited.”
The match against Tottenham was the latest stop in fairy tales where he saw a Bod/Grimt Punch that weighed above its weight. In the final game, the underdog knocked out Italian side Lazio, pushing something like Manchester United up early in the competition.
In fact, I received my real dose on Thursday.
Tottenham has comfortably won the first leg 3-1 in a series of superstar talent, simply too strong, supported by raucous home support.
But it was still an opportunity to treasure for this Bod/Grimt team and its loyal, loyal team.
Before the match, Bodeau players and staff gathered in the pre-match huddle. The people in the inner sanctuary smiled as Captain Ulrik Saltness gave his final speech to the team before the game began – they looked ready to cause upset.
As the players broke out of the pack, the pockets of travel fans in the far corner of the pitch exploded with applause.
Approximately 3,000 fans formed a sea of yellow, the colour of Bod/Grimt home shirts, separated by flashes of Norway’s red and blue flags.
They enjoyed the party vibe all night, with scarves swinging over their heads and tiny yellow balloons thrown in. It was a party that barely stopped, even when the team was recognized in less than a minute.
However, it is important to note that these fans are not just for rides, nor are players here either. Yes, bodø/glimt was an extreme weaker, but there was a belief that it could still cause omnipotent agitation.
That dream lived up to him after Captain Saltness scored the goal in the 83rd minute. The ball looping behind the net met in a frenzy scene from travel support, silenced Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
It was a reward for fans who have made a long journey to see the team play the biggest game in the club’s 108-year history, offering a slim but faint thing of hope for the second leg.
At 3-0, this tie was almost finished. 3-1, you never know…
After all, the Spurs will need to visit Bodoux next week for a return fixture, and Norwegian club fans hope the unique experience will make the opponent feel uneasy.
While Bodø/Glimt’s home stadium at Aspmyra Stadion has fewer than 10,000 fans, the supporters sit close to the pitch and create a hostile atmosphere for the enemy. Not only that, the pitch is made from artificial grass. This is something Tottenham players are not used to.
“It’s been dark for a long time, it’s very cold. The winters last quite a long time. The town is really small, but the summer is beautiful,” Rasan said.
“I think Bodo’s game will be a decisive game. It’s much better to play the final game at home.”
That’s the sentiment that Bereide shares, “I think it’s different for Tottenham to come to Bodgum and play in the Arctic. You never know the weather, so it’s really exciting.”
The second leg tie will take place on Thursday, with Bodø/Glimt having to score at least two goals to worry about Tottenham.
It could be a tall order, but it’s a challenge when Bodø/Glimt manager Kjetil Knutsen told reporters he’s looking forward to as his side is aiming to reach the Europa League final.
“Using this score allows you to have a full stadium (for the second leg) and you can do that.”
