His son Marius, who later became a senior broadcasting executive, told an NRK documentary: “The person we meet in the big radio moments is a man who has built himself up.
“Like an artist, he prepared himself for a concert. He was a very different man off air.”
Former Norway striker Egil Ostenstad, who played in the Premier League for Southampton and Blackburn Rovers, told the Times: “It was Bjorge. This was something that summarised his personality and the way he was as a commentator. I would say he’s a very untypical Norwegian.
“Norwegians in general try to be quite comfortable and not show too much emotion. Maybe that’s why he was so popular. He knew how to show emotions and this commentary proves it very well.
“He is proving that he is a well-read person to put all those things together, which, without being prepared for it, it’s a big achievement.”
Since the start of the Premier League, England has been a popular destination for Norway’s best footballers, with almost 100 Norwegians having played in the league.
From Jan Age Fjortoft, Morten Gamst Pedersen and John Carew to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Martin Odegaard and Haaland, the countries have been closely linked in footballing terms for the past 30 years.
England have won one, drawn one and lost two of four competitive meetings with Norway, and this World Cup has already provided plenty of opportunities for colourful commentary with a succession of superb games.
The men’s sides have never met in a major tournament and Saturday will be the first time they have met for 12 years.
The rivalry was renewed in 2015 when England met Norway in the last 16 of the Women’s World Cup in Canada.
Norwegian newspaper VG Sporten asked if Mark Sampson’s team were “ready for a hell of a beating” in Ottawa. England won 2-1.
Whether anyone can conjure words to match, or be as long-lasting and memorable, as Bjorge Lillelien’s remain to be seen, but there is every chance they will get a mention amid the action in Miami.
The friendly rivalry will certainly be put to one side for 90 minutes.
