The Norwegian national soccer team of women has been waiting for a big title for 25 years. At the European Championship in Switzerland, top striker Ada Hegerberg and Co. now want to go back to old strength – and to the trail of success.
Norway and European Football Championships of women – that was not a good “mating” at the tournaments in England 2022 and in the 2017 Netherlands. The northern Europeans missed the KO round both times after weak preliminary round ideas. After the lost final in 2013 in Sweden against Germany (0: 1), only one victory achieved a win in the following six European Championship finals.
For everyone around the Norwegian team, it is clear what that means: this year it should finally go better again. First of all, it is about surviving the preliminary round group A with the opponents Switzerland (July 2nd), Finland (July 6th) and Iceland (July 10th), National coach Gemma Grainger told the European Football Association UEFA in an interview. She demands from her team to go to the performance limit and to show full commitment: “This is my expectation to you: that fans can be proud when our team plays and that they can stand behind them.”
Defeat in the 2013 European Championship final against Germany
In the end, this was rarely the case in big tournaments. The four titles were long ago: in 1987 and 1993 Norway won the European Championship, in 1995 the World Cup final against Germany and at the Olympics 2000 Gold after a win in the final against the USA. For the last time in a final in 2013, Norway was 0: 1 against the DFB selection.
Grainger does not promise too much before the start of the tournament, you should never look too far. If the move into the quarter -finals, the cards are re -mixed, says the Englishwoman, who has had the legend at the Norwegian national team since the beginning of 2024. “As successful as possible” If you want to cut off – the trainer cannot be moved to a more precise forecast. But she has a warning: already in the “Preliminary round group without a big name” If it was not to underestimate anyone.
National coach: “Hegerberg is a leadership figure”
In addition to Ada Hegerberg from Olympiaque Lyon, the 2018 world football player, with Caroline Graham Hansen (FC Barcelona), Frida Maanum (Arsenal) and Guro Riding (FC Chelsea), a few more world -class players on the Norwegian offensive is and remains the formative face of the team – on and off.
Ada Hegerberg (left) is indispensable for national coach Gemma Grainger.
Grainger determined the attacker of Olympique Lyon because of her leadership qualities and authenticity as the new captain of the team: “For me, it is a leadership figure in everything she does. She lets her words follow (…) passion and ambition with which she represents her country are really impressive”said the national coach.
Break between 2017 and 2022 – criticism of the association
Hegerberg, who has won the Champions League with Olympique Lyon six times since 2016, made headlines in 2017: At the age of 21, she resigned from the national team after the point and goalless EM-AS. As the reason, she cited the imbalance between men and women in the association premiums, and she also criticized unequal opportunities for girls and boys in her country’s football association. Since then, Hegerberg, who used to play for Turbine Potsdam in the Bundesliga, has been a activist for equality. This is paid to it by many.
Hegerberg continues to fight for Equality
In 2022 Hegerberg returned to the national team after they “A lot of time to think” have used. “I would like to contribute my part to achieve our goals and inspire both young girls and boys all over the country. Now I can finally do it again with the flag on the chest”she said at the time. Since then, despite several injuries, the attacker has been the undisputed leader in the team.
But they could not conjure up success either: at the 2023 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, this came out for Norway in the round of 16, and Norway was not there at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
Quarterfinal catch as Birthday gift?
Key player Hegerberg will be 30 years old on July 10th. If everything runs according to plan, this evening she leads her team in Thun to the last preliminary round game against Iceland as a captain – and would then have two reason to celebrate in the event of the quarter -finals.
23 players are in the European Championship squad of the Norwegian national team.
Norway’s defensive could be the weak point
Despite the strongly occupied offensive, Norway is not part of the experts and experts – especially because the defensive is significantly weaker in comparison. But so far, the team of trainer Grainger has been able to live quite well with the role of the outsider.
If a successful start to the tournament succeeds in the official European Championship opening game on July 2 in the Basel St. Jakob Park against host Switzerland, the confidence in one’s own strengths should grow as well as the chances of becoming a surprise team of the tournament.