After World Cup Success: 'I Woke Up in the Middle of the Night'

Patrick Berg, a key player for Norwegian club Bodø/Glimt, has spoken about the lingering effects of the World Cup, even after returning home. The 28-year-old midfielder admitted to experiencing disrupted sleep, waking up suddenly in the middle of the night. "I suddenly woke up in the middle of the night, wide awake and struggling to sleep," Berg told VG.

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I suddenly woke up in the middle of the night, wide awake and struggling to sleep.

Just three days after his return to Bodø, Berg was back on the field for Glimt's victory against Fredrikstad on Friday. He started on the bench, along with teammates Jens Petter Hauge and Fredrik André Bjørkan, a decision coach Kjetil Knutsen attributed to managing the players' recovery from the time difference and preventing injury. "They have been away for a long time. They came home with a time difference, so you are a bit vulnerable to immediate tough loads. We have to make sure they don't get injured," Knutsen explained.

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They have been away for a long time. They came home with a time difference, so you are a bit vulnerable to immediate tough loads. We have to make sure they don't get injured.

Berg entered the match in the 69th minute. He acknowledged the difficulty of readjusting to the time zone, noting that it affects not only him but also his children, who are still struggling. "They say it usually takes about a week before you are completely back," Berg said, emphasizing the need to be ready for upcoming matches.

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They say it usually takes about a week before you are completely back.

Reflecting on the past few weeks, Berg described the World Cup experience as filled with "fantastic moments" that he will carry forward. He also noted the significant increase in attention he and the national team have received, both domestically and internationally. "It has gone completely crazy, both within Norway and internationally, the Norwegian national team has received extreme attention," Berg stated. While acknowledging the heightened public interest, he added, "It has been a bit more attention than I originally like. But I feel we have handled it well, and the experiences I am left with are fantastic."

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It has gone completely crazy, both within Norway and internationally, the Norwegian national team has received extreme attention.