Forget all reservations, percentages and eventualities about something else. Norway will play the World Cup in 2026! And in the locker room the royals appeared.

• Steffen Stenersen, VG
• Mats Arntzen, VG
• Vegard Aulstad, VG
• Bjørn S. Delebekk (photo), VG
• Nora Viskjer, VG
• Gabriel Aas Skålevik (photo), VG
• Synne Sofie Christiansen, VG
• Sindre Espe, VG

There is no doubt about that after Antonio Nusa and Erling Braut Haaland turned the game around for Norway in the second half against Italy.

– I don't think I'll have any better evenings than this in my life. It's almost surreal, says national team manager Ståle Solbakken to TV 2.

Three minutes into overtime, Jørgen Strand Larsen completed the humiliation.

4–1 at San Siro is a sensation! Italy have never before lost a home match in a World Cup qualifying group stage (55 matches, 47 wins, 8 draws).

Few interviews and reactions after the party night in Italy:

After a historic evening at San Siro, an emotional Solbakken met with TV 2. There he reminisced about his last years as national team manager.

– I lost my mother this year, but she would probably have been the one who would have taken it the most calmly. But I have a dad who watches the game alone. But I'm standing here with Kenta and we grew up together in the sandbox, and now we're standing here at San Siro. It's a sick story, he says.

Under Solbakken's leadership, Norway has delivered a flawless World Cup qualification with eight wins in eight matches.

– We have broken codes, we have become better individual players, people have had real breakthroughs like Antonio Nusa, Oscar Bobb who starts matches for Manchester City. It's a bit sick to think about, and it's important to pinch ourselves, for the small nation we are, says Erling Braut Haaland to TV 2.

– I feel like this is the start of something big. It's just important to enjoy the moment, he says.

– It's indescribable. It's absolutely crazy. This is what we've dreamed of and worked for for a long time. The way we're doing it is absolutely incredible. It's huge, says national team captain Martin Ødegaard to TV 2.

The injured Arsenal star emphasized how much adversity the national team has been through.

– We have been through so much shit, so many downs. To be able to stand in this together is great. We have faith and are getting paid for it. We have struggled through so much, and now we are standing here with a full pot in a quali. It's sick.

– Italy was ridiculed. It's almost like we can't believe what we're seeing, says TV 2's Jesper Mathisen, referring to next summer's big highlight.

After the match, there were many glazed eyes.

– It's the best team in the world! It's a historic victory, and those are historic numbers, says TV 2's Øyvind Alsaker as the Norwegian players stormed the field in euphoria.

– It's so wonderful. Now we have two feet in, it's absolutely magical. The first half is the ass, but in the second half we run over them, says Alexander Sørloth when asked by VG.

– We are already starting to look forward to it (for the World Cup). Today we will celebrate with 6,000 Norwegians. It is so incredibly wonderful, he continues.

A long desert trek is over since the last championship in Euro 2000 and the World Cup in 1998. For the first time in Erling Braut Haaland's lifetime, the Norwegian national team is once again in good company - and the 25-year-old should have a large share of the credit for that.

Twelve minutes before the end, the Norwegian giant striker scored the lead behind City teammate Gianluigi Donnarumma, before he put the ball in the goal again one minute later.

It totally clicked for the Norwegian players and the support staff, who could finally let loose their cheers for a place in the World Cup. The many thousands of away fans could sing Norway is going to the World Cup, knowing full well that no percentage chance in the world could prevent this.

Erling Braut Haaland? 16 goals in eight qualifying matches. Close to the record of Polish legend Robert Lewandowski.

In unbearable rain, the Norwegian boys learned that it is far more unpleasant to play in front of football-crazy Italians at the mighty San Siro than it is at home at the safe Ullevaal.

The Norwegian team struggled heavily in the first half and created nothing themselves. Italy was by far the better team and took the lead after just ten minutes.

Haaland was asked about Italy's striker Pio Esposito at Saturday's press conference, but replied that he was not aware of the Inter youngster.

– I hope it doesn't come back to bite me tomorrow, he said.

Of course, it was Esposito who poked at Italy's leadership.

They were actually on schedule to make it 9–0, but fortunately they didn't follow up on their dream start.

Fortunately, soaked away fans were able to quickly forget the first half and warm up to superstars Antonio Nusa and Erling Haaland.

The World Cup is coming up in the summer.