[Saba Sports News] Norway have returned to the World Cup after a 28-year absence. The national side recently unveiled their official team group photo for the tournament, where star players including Erling Haaland and Martin Ødegaard posed as Vikings holding traditional weapons. The photoshoot took place last weekend, helmed by renowned photographer David Yarrow. Yarrow and his team chose a private beach in Oslo, Norway, as the shooting location. Martin Ødegaard, the Arsenal midfielder, was the only player absent, as he was competing in the UEFA Champions League final that day. A vacant spot was reserved for him in the group shot, and his portrait was later digitally combined into the official photo after he completed a separate shoot. To create an authentic atmosphere, the crew built a rustic wooden pier full of historical charm. “We’ve seen countless pictures of players boarding planes this week, which all feel rather generic,” Yarrow said. “Norway put a lot of thought into doing something distinctive. This is easily one of the best World Cup team photos out there.”
The editor believes that given how unique this photo is, Yarrow anticipated that some people might mistake it for an AI-generated image. He said: “That’s why we often take behind-the-scenes footage these days. We always document the whole production process. To be honest, I’m getting on in years and don’t really understand what AI is all about.”