Wayne Rooney has doubled down on his bold promise to row down the River Mersey after Norway's surprise victory over Brazil in the World Cup last 16. The former Everton striker, now a BBC pundit, had confidently stated that if Norway reached the quarter finals, he would row down the river. Following Norway's 2-1 win, anchor Kelly Cates reminded Rooney of his pledge during the broadcast ahead of England's match against Mexico.
Rooney's Reaction and Recruiting Fellow Pundits
Rooney initially joked, "Was that me?" but quickly reaffirmed his commitment. He recruited fellow pundits Micah Richards and Joe Hart to join him, saying, "I'm a man of my word. Micah has agreed to do it with me. We're a team. The only thing I'll say is, because we've got a lot on, it might have to be the Hudson River when we're in New York. If the BBC can sort that." Joe Hart also agreed, stating, "I'll do the Hudson with you." The BBC later mocked up a graphic of Rooney in an England shirt rowing down the Mersey with the Liverpool skyline, captioned "Over to you."
Norway's Victory and Viking Row Celebration
Norway's 2-1 victory over five-time champions Brazil was powered by a brace from Erling Haaland, showcasing the golden generation of Norwegian talent. The team's Viking row celebration, a synchronized row between fans and players, has become a viral sensation at the World Cup. England fans hope not to see it when the two nations face off in the quarter final on Saturday.
England's Dramatic Win Over Mexico
England secured their quarter final spot with a resilient 3-2 win over Mexico at the legendary Azteca Stadium. Jude Bellingham scored a double and Harry Kane added a penalty to seal a famous victory in Mexico City. The drama continued after the final whistle when former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson was injured during a celebratory Wonderwall singalong, falling over advertising boards and being taken to hospital on a stretcher.
Tuchel's Mixed Emotions After Henderson Injury
England boss Thomas Tuchel expressed mixed emotions in his post-match interview. He said: "My emotions are very mixed. I'm just proud of the mentality and the attitude. Round of 32, round of 16 is the moment in tournaments where you find a way to win. We did it with pure mentality, with heart. We overcame every obstacle that was thrown at us." Regarding Henderson, he added: "He injured his wrist. He is at the moment at the hospital, so it is quite a serious injury. It just doesn't fit to the evening that Jordan is now not with us."
