Time runs fast: seems yesterday that Hege Riise was winning World Cups as a player... Is this basically some kind of Fair Play Award? Based on disciplinary records or on other intangibles?
No, it's deeper. Kristine Leine made headlines in mainstream media earlier this year highlighting the problems many women have in balancing a career in football with an education or job on the side. Leine initially studied to become a nurse, but recently quit to focus on football because school just wouldn't co-operate in creating a proper time schedule for her. It became even worse when she made the national team squad and needed more time off. Leine's battle to succeed in both sports and school has put this topic higher on the agenda for politicians to solve.
To expand on this, Maria Thorisdottir already quit similar studies a few years ago for the same reason. During the press coverage it also became clear that Olympiatoppen, Norway's centre for elite sport, already had deals in place with a lot of schools to combine studies and sports, but not Leine's. This may partly be because it's a private college and Olympiatoppen have been focusing on the public ones, but the impression I was left with was that they did have deals in places with private ones too, but just with those that teach engineering and other male-dominated subjects, not those that offers studies like nursing, which have a majority of women attending.
- NM Cup final 2018 - LSK Kvinner vs Sandviken 4-0 1-0 Guro Reiten 8 2-0 Guro Reiten 11 3-0 Emilie Haavi 74 4-0 Sophie Haug 83 LSK secured "the double" in one of the most one-sided NM cup finals in recent years. Sandviken had trouble from the start containing the quick LSK wingers Haavi and Hansen with Reiten roaming around as a constant threat. The game was basically over after 11 minutes when LSK went two up. Sandviken missed their top scorer Ajara Njoya on international duty in Africa. They couldn't build up many decent attacks against an aggressive LSK team. Very disappointing in that aspect as Sandviken ran the show in the 0-0 match between the teams in Toppserien some weeks ago. This rounds off a perfect season for LSK with both titles and a CL quarter-final coming up in March. LSK Kvinner (4-2-3-1): Cecilie Fiskerstrand - Emilie Woldvik, Anna Westerlund, Sarah Suphellen (Emilia Ruud 86), Anja Sønstevold (c) - Isabell Bachor, Ingrid Syrstad Engen - Emilie Haavi, Guro Reiten, Synne Skinnes Hansen - Sophie Haug Sandviken (4-4-1-1): Nora Gjøen - Kristina Grøndal (June Hammersland 46), Laila Himle, Stine Hovland (c), Karoline Bakke - Amanda Perez (Marte Hjelmhaug 81), Ingrid Spord, Marije Brummel, Camilla Ervik - Tatiana Matveeva (Ingrid Altermark 58) - Kennya Cordner
Ada Hegerberg wins the first ever women's Ballon d'Or! But back home in Norway things are very different. Team of the Year was announced today, voted by the players' organization NISO. Players eligible for votes are all players playing in Norway (also foreigners) plus Norwegians abroad. This was the team: (4–4–2): Cecilie Fiskerstrand - Ingrid Moe Wold, Maren Mjelde, Ina Gausdal, Anja Sønstevold - Caroline Hansen, Ingrid Syrstad Engen, Frida Maanum, Tameka Butt - Guro Reiten, Svava Ros Gudmundsdottir. So the Ballon d'Or winner Ada Hegerberg did not receive enough votes by her fellow player colleagues to capture the striker's position in the team, beaten by an Icelandic girl on a mid-table team.
"This is great for Norwegian football Elise Director Lise Klaveness praises Ada Hegerberg who won the world's best-selling football prize, Ballon d'Or, last night. Share: Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Email Print Ada Hegerberg won the world's best-selling football prize, Ballon d'Or, last night. | Photo: Gettyimages Ada Hegerberg was able to lift the trophy last night, proving she is the world's best football player. She is the first Norwegian player to receive the prize. We are proud that a Norwegian player wins the most prestigious football prize in the world. She is a great example for thousands of young football girls in Norway. "I am very proud of Ada, she has won this award, and we in NFF are very happy that a Norwegian player wins this award. She has grown up in Norway, played many age-long national matches, played on the Norwegian national team for many years. This is great for Norwegian football, says director of elite football at NFF, Lise Klaveness at fotball.no - A big congratulations to Ada. This is great for Ada, and very big for the women's football that Ada emphasizes in his speech. It's time that such a prize is awarded on the women's side, and it's fun that there is a Norwegian player who receives the prize, "says Martin Sjögren, national manager at fotball.no Only Hege Riise has won a similar award when she was awarded the World Cup's best player in 1995 Source: NFF website Now if they can get Ada to the national team they would go from being a darkhorse to a contender - just saying.................
This have been said multiple times since the moment she decided to leave NT. I wonder how exactly the team-mates who actually conquered the qualification for WWC would see her sudden come-back (especially the one on the bubble who should give her place in the roster to her) . On the other hand, for sure a WWC without the current "Best player in the world" would feel strange (although FIFA award would say that it's Marta, so there's no problem ). The FIFA World Players from the last 4 years (since the last WWC year) will be there: Lloyd (most probably), Martens and Marta. This is the first edition of Ballon d'Or féminine: it would be good for the prestige of the award also, if Hegerberg would take part to the competition.
here's a good article on Ada, delves deeper about the NT involvement than you might expect The complex story of Ada Hegerberg, a star at peace with taking a stand – Equalizer Soccer
More silly season: Arna Bjørnar IN: Andrea Wilmann (fw, Stabæk) OUT: Ingrid Stenevik (df, Sandviken) Avaldsnes IN: Rebekah Stott (df, Sky Blue FC), Victoria Esson (gk, North Shore United), Stephanie Ribeiro (fw, Grand Bodø) OUT: Luana Bertolucci (mf, unknown dest.), Andreia Rosa (df, retiring), Meryll Abrahamsen (mf, unknown dest.) Fart IN: Benedikte Birkelund (df, Vålerenga) OUT: Klepp IN: Amanda Frisbie (df, Sky Blue FC) OUT: Ina Kristoffersen (df, Stabæk) Kolbotn IN: OUT: Ina Gausdal (df, LSK Kvinner) LSK Kvinner IN: Heidi Ellingsen (mf, Stabæk), Therese S. Åsland (mf, Røa), Elise Thorsnes (fw, Utah Royals), Ina Gausdal (df, Kolbotn) OUT: Sigridur Gardarsdottir (mf, IBV), Ida Fjordbakk (df, unknown dest.), Cathrine Dekkerhus (mf, possible retirement), Anna Westerlund (df, Åland United) Lyn IN: OUT: Røa IN: Synne Jensen (fw, Stabæk), Linn-Mari Nilsen (gk, Kaupanger) OUT: Therese S. Åsland (mf, LSK Kvinner), Line Holter (mf, retiring), Svava Ros Gudmundsdottir (fw, Kristianstads DFF) Sandviken IN: Ingrid Stenevik (df, Arna Bjørnar) OUT: Stabæk IN: Katarina Naumanen (df, HJK Helsinki), Ina Kristoffersen (df, Klepp) OUT: Heidi Ellingsen (mf, LSK Kvinner), Andrea Wilmann (fw, Arna Bjørnar), Synne Jensen (fw, Røa) Trondheims-Ørn IN: OUT: Vålerenga IN: OUT: Benedikte Birkelund (df, Fart), Camille Levin (df, unknown dest.) - o - o - o -- o - o - o -- o - o - o - Newspaper Guardian ranked top 100 players in 2018. Four Norwegians made the cut: 3 - Ada Hegerberg 20 - Caroline Hansen 39 - Maren Mjelde 78 - Guro Reiten - o - o - o -- o - o - o -- o - o - o - Norway's Player of the Year nominations are out: - Ada Hegerberg - Maren Mjelde - Guro Reiten And no Caro Hansen! Criminally underrated. The winner will be announced on the Gala of Sports in January.
Norway drawn in a tough World Cup group with hosts France, South Korea and Nigeria. Let's prepare for a six month long soap opera in the media called "With or without Ada". Comments from the Norway camp: "This is a challenging and exciting group. We could have got easier opponents on paper, but we'll accept this challenge and prepare ourselves as good as possible. I was pleased to avoid facing France in the opening game. Instead it will be in game two in Nice. I also know Nigeria's coach Dennerby personally." - Martin Sjögren, NT coach "Group of death. Host nation and the best ranked teams from pot 3 and 4, but this will be very exciting. We knew it would be tough anyway." - Maren Mjelde, captain "We're vikings, so let's just embrace this task. I have a team-mate from South Korea, so this will be fun. To go through we have to perform in all games. Boring answer, but that's how it is." - Maria Thorisdottir "France will be a tough nut to crack at home, but everything can happen in a World Cup. South Korea and Nigeria are teams we have good chance to beat." - Caro Hansen "Decent draw. Could have been better, could have been worse. France will be tough of course, but the other teams are beatable. Six more months of development and we'll sort this out." - Lisa Marie Utland "This draw couldn't have been much worse. There will be no easy matches, that's for sure. France clear favourites to win the group." - Carl Erik Torp, NRK expert
I agree that Norway got the worse possible draw ever: veritable group of death, including the host team.
Spoke to Martin Sjogren in the mixed zone, very media friendly guy and easy English to understand unlike some other countries where the coach did not speak English.
yes, this draw for Norway could be a blessing or a disaster. Again, plain and simple, IMHO: Norway are a dark horse without Ada and a contender with Ada. It is up to Ada. Will she pass up playing for Norway in her "second home" of France? And actually playing France in round one? You could not write such a script of drama! Norway earned their way to the WWC without Ada and all credit to the current team - let's hope all are healthy and Ada comes back (echoing an earlier post from Bauser).
Ada on tv last night #CFC🗨️ @AdaStolsmo Hegerberg : "C'est sûr, je ne jouerai pas à la Coupe du Monde. J'ai donné mes raisons à la fédération" 🏆🇳🇴 pic.twitter.com/NFOtj4NyyK— CANAL+ Foot (@CanalplusFoot) December 9, 2018
I mean on our best days we can beat everyone but this team has/is been so inconsistent that I'll need to wait for the friendlies before the WC to make up my mind whether we'll make it past the 16s or not
No idea about those motivations Ada is talking about, that remain "between her and the Federation"? Is basically a question of not wanting to play until Sjögren will be on the bench (or something of the kind)?
I don't think we'll see Ada return in time for the World Cup unless Martin Sjögren is fired. If we add up the small pieces of information leaking out, the icy relationship between Ada and Sjögren is the big elephant in the room, not NFF. Bad results in upcoming friendlies and another poor showing at Algarve will put pressure on NFF to act. Lise Klaveness at NFF keeps telling us that she is "in touch with Ada" every now and then, and Klaveness might know more about the problems than what she tells in the media. But the squad apparently is divided too. Sjögren has support among some of the players and Ada has enemies within squad, but who and how many? Key players or fringe players? The Ballon d'Or has made Ada a more powerful person in Norwegian football, and she doesn't need to seek media attention, the media seeks her instead. This ongoing saga is draining energy from everyone involved and will continue until Ada is back playing for Norway. Fans are frustrated and want to know more.
Speaking of the media seeking her, the NYT went looking for her too: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/11/sports/ada-hegerberg-lyon-ballon-dor-twerk.html
Silly season update: Arna Bjørnar IN: Andrea Wilmann (fw, Stabæk), Oda Bogstad (gk, Lyn) OUT: Ingrid Stenevik (df, Sandviken) Avaldsnes IN: Rebekah Stott (df, Sky Blue FC), Victoria Esson (gk, North Shore United), Stephanie Ribeiro (fw, Grand Bodø), Giovanna de Oliveira (fw, Chinese club), Robyn Decker (df, Grand Bodø), Maria Sørenes (fw, Klepp), Brena de Oliveira (mf, Santos FC), Erika Alves de Moura (mf, Santos FC) OUT: Luana Bertolucci (mf, unknown dest.), Andreia Rosa (df, retiring), Meryll Abrahamsen (mf, unknown dest.), Chante Sandiford (gk, unknown dest.), Dejana Stefanovic (df, unknown dest.), Maruschka Waldus (df, Western Sydney Wanderers), Jamia Fields (fw, unknown dest.), Jordan O’Brien (mf, unknown dest.), Cho So-hyun (mf, unknown dest.) Fart IN: Benedikte Birkelund (df, Vålerenga), Naomi Griffin (fw, Kolbotn) OUT: Klepp IN: Amanda Frisbie (df, Sky Blue FC), Havana Solaun (mf, Washington Spirit) OUT: Ina Kristoffersen (df, Stabæk), Kirsty Yallop (mf, retiring), Mackenzie Berryhill (df, unknown dest.) Kolbotn IN: OUT: Ina Gausdal (df, LSK Kvinner), Naomi Griffin (fw, Fart), Maren H. Johansen (fw, retiring) LSK Kvinner IN: Heidi Ellingsen (mf, Stabæk), Therese S. Åsland (mf, Røa), Elise Thorsnes (fw, Utah Royals), Ina Gausdal (df, Kolbotn) OUT: Sigridur Gardarsdottir (mf, IBV), Ida Fjordbakk (df, unknown dest.), Cathrine Dekkerhus (mf, possible retirement), Anna Westerlund (df, Åland United), Silje Blakstad (fw, Stabæk), Ingrid Kvernvolden (fw, Røa), Juliette Kemppi (fw, Bristol City) Lyn IN: OUT: Oda Bogstad (gk, Arna Bjørnar) Røa IN: Synne Jensen (fw, Stabæk), Linn-Mari Nilsen (gk, Kaupanger), Ingrid Kvernvolden (fw, LSK Kvinner) OUT: Therese S. Åsland (mf, LSK Kvinner), Line Holter (mf, retiring), Svava Ros Gudmundsdottir (fw, Kristianstads DFF) Sandviken IN: Ingrid Stenevik (df, Arna Bjørnar) OUT: June Hammersland (df, retiring) Stabæk IN: Katarina Naumanen (df, HJK Helsinki), Ina Kristoffersen (df, Klepp), Silje Blakstad (fw, LSK Kvinner), Ingvild Isaksen (mf, free agent) OUT: Heidi Ellingsen (mf, LSK Kvinner), Andrea Wilmann (fw, Arna Bjørnar), Synne Jensen (fw, Røa), Kelly Fitzgerald (mf, back to USA), Ine Østmo (mf, college in USA) Trondheims-Ørn IN: OUT: Vålerenga IN: OUT: Benedikte Birkelund (df, Fart), Camille Levin (df, unknown dest.)
If the Ada story wasn't enough, now there is more problems with Norway strikers... Isabell Herlovsen is threatening to retire due to a huge conflict with Vålerenga coach Monica Knudsen. Their relationship apparently has been stone cold for months. Herlovsen refuses to show up when pre-season training starts in January. - I become physically ill just by being there, she says. Now she wants someone to buy her out of her contract, otherwise retirement beckons. Røa have shown interest in signing her, but nothing concrete yet. --- @AndyHE I thought about adding Mackenzie Arnold, but she left months ago, and therefore didn't qualify as a silly season transfer. I wasn't sure either if she might be on a two-club contract such as Tameka Butt at Klepp.
There hasn't been published much about it, but BT wrote that she's left for good due to family reasons: Paywalled, but here's the link anyway! https://www.bt.no/100Sport/fotball/...e-forsteelleveren-etter-sesongen-263479b.html