Norway are champions of the world. Read that again.

EAST RUTHERFORD — Somewhere around midnight in Oslo the church bells started, and nobody in authority asked them to stop. Norway are world champions, and the goal that did it belonged — of course it did — to Erling Haaland: Odegaard's pass with the outside of the boot, one touch to kill it, one to finish, the 106th minute of a final Spain had dominated in every statistic except the only one printed in gold.

No champion has ever taken this route. Norway finished second in their group, then removed Ivory Coast, Brazil, England, Argentina and Spain — three of them after the 84th minute, two in extra time. Nyland, who began the month saving Bruno Guimaraes' penalty, ended it holding Yamal's last free kick against his chest as the clock died.

Solbakken stood at the edge of the technical area through the celebrations, watching, as if counting his players. 'In 1938 we went home after one match against the eventual champions,' he said. 'I have thought about that team all month. Tonight we are the eventual champions. Language has caught up with us at last.'

The record books need editing everywhere: first Norwegian final, first title, Haaland the tournament's face — and the one line Norwegians have always kept warm is safe forever. Five games against Brazil, never beaten. It is champions who say that now.