Oh, ok, sorry for the mistake. I was under the impression that she had played DF at the WWC vs England, but I was probably remembering wrong.
It's now official! Norway's biggest football club have a women's team: Trondheims-Ørn become Rosenborg. T-Ørn's yellow/blue kits are changed to Rosenborg's white/black. I wonder what this will do to the dynamics of the league. I can't imagine Rosenborg want to settle for second string players in the Norwegian market, which has been the case with T-Ørn in recent years. Interesting times ahead for sure.
Good to see Thorisdottir back from injury, but getting playing time on the current super hot, Chelsea, will be another story as you the train of thought on the starting lineup would be ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’. Engen was once again a monster at DM for Wolfsburg last Friday vs the 2nd place Hoffenheim, plus showed her playmaking chops when moving up in the attack as her team dominated the game. Shame though, Minde simply don’t get playing time at WOB even though she had goal scoring streak in the early part of last season. Remembering Eikeland for Reading one game; she was obviously assigned to mark Arsenal’s Beth Mead, and did it do well as to frustrate Beth into a poor game as well as plucking up a yellow. Unfortunately Utland(from Reading) has only 1 goal to her credit all season long, which(if she is the starting central striker for NT) Norway might have some scoring problems up front(since Caro’s best at being winger rather than direct), but as mentioned already, Mjelde & Reiten both playing superbly for Chelsea(probably the hottest club in the world right now) Looking forward to seeing Norway play at Algarve, but if Germany's pups, Oberdorf & Buhl, have become the new Caro & Ada(who as18 year olds, double handedily brought Norway all the way into the Euro finals), it might be over for all of Europe for this decade(as they got the way deeper support squad than Norway had back in 2013)
A bunch of Toppserien clubs are at La Manga this week for pre-season camp. There will be held a number of friendlies. Two played so far: Avaldsnes 1 - 1 LSK Kvinner Norheim 78(p) - Eide Lie 40 Sandviken 1 - 0 Rosenborg Cordner 36
Three more friendlies at La Manga yesterday: Lyn 1 - 2 Avaldsnes Søyland - Decker, Norheim Røa 4 - 0 Klepp Holum, Huseby, Aabel, Terry LSK Kvinner 3 - 0 Kolbotn Nautnes, Wilmann, Brenn
Two more friendlies at La Manga today: Arna Bjørnar 0 - 0 Rosenborg Sandviken 3 - 0 Vålerenga Cordner 9, Brochmann 16, Veglo 90 Vålerenga haven't looked very impressive so far this winter under new coach Jack Jensen, and today they were close to full strength with all their internationals. The season kick-off is a month away, but there is obviously still a lot to work on for them.
Two changes in Norway's Algarve Cup squad: Stine Hovland and Synne Skinnes Hansen are injured. They are replaced by Stine Reinås and Therese Åsland. Norway have arranged to meet the Netherlands away in a friendly in Doetinchem on the 9th of June.
comments from Norway coach re: Netherlands upcoming friendly (from NFF web site): Following the European Championship qualifier against the Faroe Islands on Åråsen on June 5, the football girls travel to the Netherlands to play against the World Cup finalist. - We always want to meet the best opponents, so getting tested against the Netherlands is very nice and important. They won the European Championships in 2017 and became second in the World Cup last year, so that is one of the very best we can meet. It is a team we know well and have met several times in recent years, most recently when we beat them in the World Cup qualifiers. We are looking forward to a new fight against them, says national team manager Martin Sjögren. So the last time the teams met was in the final match of the World Cup qualification in 2018, when Norway won 2-1 at the Intiliy Arena and secured the World Cup. The match will be played on June 9 at 7.30pm in Doetinchem.
Algarve Cup (quarter-final) Norway 2 - 1 Denmark 0-1 Pernille Harder 7 1-1 Elise Thorsnes 13 2-1 Synne Jensen 90+3 ----------------------------------- Elise Thorsnes Amalie Eikeland ------------ Guro Reiten---------------- Karina Sævik --------------------------- Ingrid Engen --- Rikke Nygard Anja Sønstevold -- Maria Thorisdottir -- Maren Mjelde -- Ingrid Moe Wold -------------------------------- Cecilie Fiskerstrand Substitutions 61 min - Kristine Minde for Anja Sønstevold 61 min - Frida Maanum for Rikke Nygard 61 min - Lisa Marie Utland for Elise Thorsnes 61 min - Vilde Bøe Risa for Maria Thorisdottir 84 min - Synne Jensen for Amalie Eikeland I've not seen the full game, but judged by highlights it seems Norway won on a mediocre day. Denmark had some big chances too. The players only had one training session together after four months away from each other, so I guess a top class performance was too much to ask today. Caro Hansen had minor problems with her thigh on the warm-up and decided not to play, but will try to be fit for the semi-final game against Germany on Saturday. Highlights:
Norway are up against Germany in the semi-final on Saturday. Interesting and challenging. It's been a while since we last met them. November 2016, a 1-1 draw in Chemnitz in a friendly. And before that, another 1-1 draw in the group stage at the Canada World Cup. I wonder how Sjögren will approach that game. I'm sensing he will go with a formation like against France in the World Cup last summer with Caro Hansen as a lone striker and five players behind her in midfield with quick feet and good defensive work rate. We certainly need Caro back in full fitness against the Germans. I'm guessing Eikeland out for Thorsnes at left midfield and Sønstevold out for Kristine Minde at left back. Will the teeniebopper Rikke Nygard in midfield get a new chance, or will the more experienced Vilde Bøe Risa come in? I believe Sjögren will continue to test Nygard also against world class opposition. She did well against Denmark. ---------------------------------------- Caro Hansen ------ Elise Thorsnes ------------ Guro Reiten---------------- Karina Sævik --------------------------- Ingrid Engen --- Rikke Nygard Kristine Minde -- Maria Thorisdottir -- Maren Mjelde -- Ingrid Moe Wold ----------------------------------- Cecilie Fiskerstrand
Why turn the best right side winger in the world today into a centralized player? only game I could watch yesterday, and yet perhaps maybe spoiled by all the. recent Chelsea matches I’ve seen lately(a squad that’s covered by superstars from head to toe)but it looked very 2nd tier instead. Perhaps it was that Caro didn’t play, but Staevek must of gotten 3 times behind enemy lines, only to flop the final shot/I’ve seen 6 year olds able to side step & beat the GK! lol. At least Norway had enough stars to cover for the missing Caro, but Denmark is basically a ‘one man army’, so why in earth would they pull Pernille out so early on when it was a do it die, elimination game with it going straight to shootout after 90 minutes?(as I understand the Algarve rules). So Norway still got the balanced skill set; superb technical, Mjelde & Reiten, physically strong Thorisdottir & Engen and still got to admit, the blazingly fast Staevik. But don’t think it’s enough to overcome such a deep & disciplined squad like Germany
What happened to Carol Hansen? Too bad Ada doesn’t play for them anymore. Could have change the dynamics of Euros or Olympics or even the World Cup.
Ada is out injured for an extended time period now ; she did play in the 2017 Euro (Norway had an awful Euro) ; would've be nice to have Ada in the WWC - Norway were impressive until they ran out of steam in the QF against a quality England side - Ada could've made a very good Norway run even better ; see above in Bauser post - Caro had a thigh concern and was left off the Denmark game roster ; Denmark has Nadim too but out injured I understand.
German coach Martina Voss-Tecklenburg will start 11 different players against Norway compared to the game against Sweden. Norway should be the favourite for this match.
No matter how good they are, it be hard for 11 new players to get chemistry if this their first game together . But with the current lack of interest in Germany in her NT, why doesn’t MVT just try & win this tourney? Otherwise what’s left out for the next year?(except playing all those weak Eastern Euro qualifier squads)
Algarve Cup (Semi-final) Germany 4 - 0 Norway 1-0 Lea Schüller 20 2-0 Johanna Elsig 26 3-0 Ingrid Engen 60 (o.g.) 4-0 Marina Hegering 71 Ouch. Norway's biggest defeat since 2009. An embarrassing performance against the German reserves and three goals coming from corners. I've not seen the match, so I'm only going by reports. I'm baffled by the starting line-up. Engen as centre-back and two off-season midfielders in the engine room (Bøe Risa and Maanum). Algarve is a test tournament, but still.. They need to strike back from this in the third game. ---------------------------------------- Caro Hansen --- Amalie Eikeland ------------ Guro Reiten---------------- Karina Sævik --------------------------- Frida Maanum --- Vilde Bøe Risa Kristine Minde -- Maria Thorisdottir -- Ingrid Engen -- Ingrid Moe Wold ----------------------------------- Cecilie Fiskerstrand Substitutions: 46 min - Elise Thorsnes for Amalie Eikeland 62 min - Tuva Hansen for Maria Thorisdottir 74 min - Emilie Woldvik (debut!) for Ingrid Moe Wold 78 min - Anja Sønstevold for Karina Sævik
I agree - did not seem Norway were going for the win (does not mean they would've won anyway). No Utland nor Jensen to start (or perhaps Thorsnes). Hansen is more effective NOT being up top, IMHO. Well, it should be a learning experience. Norway are a better team than the results show, of course. Hopefully they will take out their frustrations on N.Z. and at least get a bronze medal. Italy is brilliant at times and one of my favorite teams (WWC 2019 showed their potential).
Algarve Cup (3rd/4th place play-off match) Norway 2 - 1 New Zealand 0-1 Hannah Wilkinson 10 1-1 Synne Jensen 14 2-1 Caroline Hansen 86 Third place to Norway (after winning it last year) was a nice ending to this year's Algarve Cup. Norway had to come from behind yet again, and just like against Denmark managed to turn it around and score a winner towards the end. Caro Hansen scored her 38th goal for Norway (equalling Ada Hegerberg btw). Synne Jensen scored yet again and must have strengthened her chances to be a regular member of the squad from now on. Hope to see the game in full on Youtube sooner or later. -------------------------------------- Synne Jensen --- Guro Reiten ------------ Caroline Hansen ---------------- Karina Sævik --------------------------- Frida Maanum --- Ingrid Engen Kristine Minde -- Maria Thorisdottir -- Maren Mjelde -- Ingrid Moe Wold ----------------------------------- Cecilie Fiskerstrand Substitutions: 61 min - Vilde Bøe Risa for Frida Maanum 61 min - Elise Thorsnes for Synne Jensen 69 min - Lisa Marie Utland for Karina Sævik
Hard to find a highlight show from the NZ game, but here are Norway's goals at least: https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=133506361423880
I've underestimated Synne Jensen's pace. Her long legs can easily deceive you. She is quicker than she sometimes looks. She covers a lot of ground per step even if the frequency isn't the highest. Just like a Norwegian moose.
Because of the Corona virus, kick-off in Toppserien 2020 is temporarily postponed from March 21st to April 15th. It could be delayed even further. We'll see how things develop. The situation is not under control at the moment.
NFF have announced kick-off for the men's league season on June 16. Women's Toppserien will follow some time in mid July. The date is not yet finalized. I suspect it will be a league season with fewer fixtures than planned, but nice to see that football will resume, even if it is without fans.
NFF decided today on a preliminary kick-off date for Toppserien 2020: Saturday, July 11th. But there is an ongoing debate about a possible earlier start if medical and financial requirements are in place. The much anticipated new league system with a top four championship play-offs will be cancelled this year. Instead it will be a straight forward league system with ten clubs (18 matchdays in total) and relegation for the club finishing in 10th place. 9th place will go to relegation play-off with the second best team at level two.