"Holand, beat Brazil"... Rooney makes bold pledge: If Norway wins, he'll row and dive into the Mersey

*This content was translated by AI.

English football legend Wayne Rooney confidently predicted Brazil's victory in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 and made a cheerful pledge. Should Norway pull off an upset and defeat Brazil, Rooney declared he would jump into a river and row himself.

According to foreign media outlets including the UK's "The Mirror," Rooney recently appeared on a BBC broadcast to preview the Round of 16 clash between Brazil and Norway.

Norway defeated Ivory Coast 2-1 in the Round of 32 match held on the 1st (Korean time) in Dallas, Texas, USA. After conceding an equalizer just before halftime following Antonio Nusa's opening goal, Norway secured their ticket to the Round of 16 when Erling Haaland scored a dramatic late winner. With this goal, Haaland reached the milestone of Norway's 60th A-match goal in the shortest time in the nation's history.

Immediately after the match, Norwegian players lined up and performed a group "Viking Row" ceremony, rowing in unison to celebrate their victory. Watching the scene, BBC presenter Gabby Logan remarked, "Rooney also practiced this ceremony. If Norway beats Brazil and England reaches the quarterfinals, the two teams could meet."

In response, Rooney wittily replied, "If Norway beats Brazil and advances to the quarterfinals, I will enter the River Mersey and row down myself."

The Round of 16 match between Brazil and Norway, with Rooney's "Mersey dive" on the line, will take place on the 6th at 5 a.m. at the New York/New Jersey Stadium in the United States.

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*This content was translated by AI.