[1] In September 1981 he came to international prominence when he said “Maggie Thatcher your boys took a hell of a beating” in commentary following Norway's 2–1 victory against England in a World Cup qualifier.

At the end of the match, alternating between the English and Norwegian languages, he exultantly proclaimed amidst scenes of jubilant Norway supporters and players in the football stadium: "We are best in the world!

England, birthplace of giants", before taunting a roll call of English historical figures: A significant portion of his excitement was due to how English football was held in very high regard in Norway at the time, as it was often easier to watch the Football League First Division on television in Norway than in England during the 1970s, with one match broadcast live each weekend, and with score updates from other simultaneous matches.

[citation needed] Although the broadcast was initially meant solely for the Norwegian home audience its content soon made its way across the North Sea and became legendary in the history of sports commentary in England.

Such is its place in British sporting culture that parodies of the commentary have been written to celebrate domestic sporting victories, such as the following when the England cricket team beat Australia to regain the Ashes in September 2005: And again, when England's cricket team finally won a game against New Zealand in the 2006/7 one-day series, the BBC's web coverage came up with: Following Scotland's 2–1 victory against Norway in Oslo in September 2005, the Daily Record parodied the quote, using known Norwegians: The Deputy Editor of the Daily Record at the time, Murray Foote, later issued an apology for the inclusion of Vidkun Quisling in the quotation: "While I naturally assumed Quisling was not one of Norway's favourite sons, I was truly unaware of the deep loathing his name engenders amongst your countrymen.

Rab Butler, Clive James, Ted Hughes, William Pitt the Younger, Eric Idle, Peter Cook, Bill Oddie!

[10] During a "Phoenix from the Flames" segment of Fantasy Football League, Frank Skinner and David Baddiel visit Norway to recreate Hallvar Thoresen's winning goal against England in the 1981 qualifier.