Group A: Norway don’t give EM debutants Northern Ireland a chance

Two-time European champion Norway has made a perfect start to the European Championship. At St Mary’s Stadium in Southampton, the favorites beat debutants Northern Ireland 4-1 to move ahead of England at the top of Group A. Northern Ireland celebrated nonetheless: their first goal in a major tournament.

As in the Euro qualifiers (6-0, 6-0), Northern Ireland was not an equal opponent for coach Martin Sjögren’s team. The successful start to the tournament on Thursday evening (July 7th, 2022) was a great relief. With Ada Hegerberg returning from Champions League winner Olympique Lyon, the Norwegians left the trauma of the 2017 European Championship in the Netherlands behind when they were eliminated in the preliminary round without a point or goal.

The first real indicator will be the duel with England in Brighton on Monday (07/11/2022/21:00 CEST). The hosts of the European Championship only beat Austria 1-0 in the opening game and are now behind Norway in Group A.

Green & White stand together

The “Green & White Army” was supported in the stadium by numerous fans in the Northern Irish colors. They undauntedly celebrated this special day, which marked the women’s team’s first appearance at a major tournament. Kenny Shiels’ selection had prevailed against Ukraine in the play-offs. Steven Davis, captain of the men’s national team, sent the team a motivational video via Twitter on Thursday afternoon: “Make the country proud,” said Davis with a thumbs-up gesture.

Blakstad and Maanum set the course early

Saleswoman, teacher, undertaker – but what should mostly amateur footballers do against a team that has been at every European Championship since 1987 and whose protagonists are under contract with top clubs all over the world? The team structure that had been built up in the training camp since January cracked after just ten minutes. After a quick change of sides via Hegerberg and Guro riding, Julie Blakstad came into position half-left. Her low shot from 14 meters hissed into the left corner. Northern Ireland goalkeeper Jacky Burns was unlucky, as was Frida Maanum’s second goal two minutes later.

Graham Hansen makes her first EM goal

But it was thanks to Burns that things didn’t get quite bitter for Northern Ireland. Wave after wave of attacks rolled towards the penalty area of ​​the underdogs in the first half, who were only rarely able to free themselves from this grip.

But Norway needed a penalty whistle to make it 3-0. Nadene Caldwell caught the ball on his arm when trying to clear a cross with his head. The Finnish referee Lina Lehtovaara pointed to the point after video evidence, Caroline Graham Hansen converted (31st). Amazing: It was the first European Championship goal for the top player from FC Barcelona, ​​who at the age of 27 has already played 97 international matches (44 goals). After the final whistle, the former Wolfsburg player was named “Player of the Game” for her outstanding performance.

Nelson with milestone for Northern Ireland

Feeling confident of victory, the Norwegians took a nap shortly after the break. After a corner for Northern Ireland, goalkeeper Guro Pettersen wandered a bit disorientated through the six-yard box, her team-mates were unable to clear the ball and central defender Julie Nelson headed Rachel Furness’s pass over the line (49′).

The first goal in a major tournament! Northern Ireland celebrated this historic moment like a victory. And it suited the dramaturgy that 37-year-old Nelson scored the goal, the same woman who was there for the complete restart of the Northern Ireland national team in 2004. “As a defender, you don’t expect to score the first goal. I had to double-check that the ball was in there,” she later told the BBC, raving about the atmosphere: “It was like a home game.”

The brave women from the north east of Ireland had already achieved more than they could have dreamed of before the tournament. And her fans accompanied this milestone with never-ending chants. It hardly mattered to them that riding from Chelsea’s free kick (54th) made the result for Norway befitting their ranks.