The goal they conceeded bothers me a lot, it was pure amateurish defending from Tuva Hansen and it's sadly not the first time.
(Game highlights in Dutch) FT: Norway 1-1 Netherlands Norway started the game much better and could have been 2-0 up by the 20th minute of play (Maanum even scored a goal which was correctly ruled out for offside) but then they slowed down and allowed Netherlands back into a game they didn't look like winning or even drawing. Caro Hansen was the best Norwegian player and could have easily scored a few more goals than she did. Overall this Norwegian team severely lacks composure, there was no reason not to win this game after going 1-0 up in the second half and another late goal screwed Norway yet again. Thankfully, Norway will get a League C team in the play-offs, I guess UEFA considers that "punishment" enough for not qualifying directly.
That is only half the way, they also needs to beat one of the winners from the League B play-off (or if they are very unlucky this years worst League A team).
True but, at worst, Norway would face Portugal, Scotland or Wales in the second round of the play-offs, all teams that they can defeat over two legs (they beat Portugal 4-0 at home last year, they beat Wales twice in the Euro 2022 qualifiers). It would be completely different and much tougher if they had to face the likes of Sweden, Austria, even Czech Republic or Ireland.
The start of a new chapter 📖✍️Welcome to Manchester United, Elisabeth Terland! 🇳🇴#MUWomen— Manchester United Women (@ManUtdWomen) July 17, 2024 Elizabeth Terland officially moves to Manchester United from Brighton.
They are frustrating, these results. I heard they should've scored more goals against Finland recently and now the Netherlands. They don't score and then they get scored on, late. They did score late on Italy one game that helped them secure a draw. Their defense has to be complimented, though. Did not let in many goals at all during this campaign of qualifying . Regarding their offense, would Ada have helped? Did Sophie Haug play in the Netherlands game? Did Celin play? It appears they did not. That I do not understand, if true. Second half sparks, they could've been. Also, neither S. Jensen nor E. Haavi were even invited to these games. Maybe for the play-offs, they will gel and qualify - I sincerely hope so!
I don't know that the defense can be complimented, Tuva Hansen was really poor on the last two goals that Norway conceeded (away in Finland and at home to the Netherlands), the first time in her marking, the second time by being overrun by Chasity Grant who crossed to Miedema who scored. When it comes to offense, they scored more goals than both the Netherlands and Finland over 6 games and often without Haavi or Hegerberg.
I was reviewing the six games as a group. If you look at six games, they gave up very few goals but they scored very few goals (except one) over the six games. Your specific examples are legit but OVERALL, they gave up few goals yet scored few goals. Your examples illustrate why they finished third.
It bothers me because Finland, Italy and even the Netherlands were all beatable. 1 win in their last 6 games and just 4 wins in their last 10 games including 2 against Croatia (who had 2 shots on target in 180 minutes and who they were always going to win against anyways) is what concerns me most. This is not good enough to quailfy. If they make it through to round 2 of the play-offs, they won't be the favorites against many teams there. And as I wrote before, I haven't seen any improvement yet under Gemma Grainger, it's usually the same issues as under the previous coaches. Also, regarding Tuva Hansen, she lost her place in the starting 11 at Bayern this past season and has mostly been coming on as a substitute. Very cool person, I met her a few times, but totally average and limited defender.
Some impressions after 8 matches under Gemma Grainger. (4 wins, 3 draws, 1 loss) We are playing a more direct and high pressing game than under Riise. It might suit our player material better, but so far the margins and results have gone against Norway in tight matches and we are not yet qualified for Euro 2025. Too many low scoring draws. It was totally unneccessary to drop points in Finland last week. An immature performance. GOALKEEPERS: Cecilie Fiskerstrand has won the battle for the #1 jersey against Aurora Mikalsen and done well in recent matches. She has built herself up again after the ACL injury and now look better than ever. At 33, Guro Pettersen is rumoured to continue her career in Portugal, but not likely to challenge for a starting spot for Norway much longer. Kolbotn's Selma Panengstuen should be the new third choice keeper. We'll see how this plays out. DEFENCE: Mathilde Harviken and Guro Bergsvand are Grainger's preferred centre-back pair. They've started the last five matches together. Marthine Østenstad has experienced a dip in her performances at Brann recently and not been able to oust either of them in the Norway line-up. It's worrying that Maria Thorisdottir is still getting game time although mostly as a sub at full-back. She shouldn't even be in the squad anymore. But as along as she plays in England, Grainger will probably pick her. When Tuva Hansen was at her best at Brann, she played centre-back. I think that is her best position, but for Norway she has been pushed out wide on the left with limited success. I think LSK's Emilie Woldvik should be given a chance there instead. She has been overlooked for too long. At right back, Thea Bjelde has done pretty good even if she primarily is a central midfielder at club level. I wonder if time has caught up with Maren Mjelde. She needs a new club to be taken into consideration again. MIDFIELD: Ingrid Engen was suspended against the Netherlands on Tuesday. Grainger uses her in that same midfield role she struggled when Hege Riise was in charge. Would she be more useful as centre-back? Probably. Lisa Naalsund played instead of Engen against the Dutch and is more aggressive although less skillful on the ball. Vilde Bøe Risa is still good at set pieces, but I would rather have up and coming Justine Kielland in that vital central midfield role now. Frida Maanum is slowly getting back to her best again, but we need to give her some time. She scored a nice goal away against Italy. Guro Reiten scored a fine goal away in Finland, but has largely been underwhelming during Grainger's reign. She needs to step up. ATTACK: Caroline Graham Hansen is the stand-out player in the squad, and if her team mates had converted more of the chances she set up for them, Norway would have gained tickets to Euro 2025 by now. Karina Sævik has become one of Grainger's favourites in the centre-forward role due to her strong running on and off the ball, but unfortunately she lacks end product. With Ada Hegerberg's future in jeopardy, she is always injured nowadays, Sævik could be the top choice up front with Sophie Roman Haug as back-up. We have plenty of other good attacking options who can come in from the bench like Celin Bizet, Elisabeth Terland and Signe Gaupset. Emilie Haavi doesn't seem to be rated anymore. It doesn't matter who's in charge.. Sjögren, Riise or Grainger, Haavi is omitted every time. I suppose it is because her defensive contribution isn't strong enough.
At this point, I figure you expect Fiskerstrand to be a starter at Fiorentina, who just signed her, despite the fact that they have in their roster one of the most promising Italian GKs (basically Italy's #3) in Rachele Baldi? This is indeed a mystery. It's possibile that Haavi isn't defensively strong enough, but did they have a look at her offensive contribution? Especially now that Norway, to use your same words, keep posting "too many low scoring draws"?
Good analysis! I did like the performance against the Netherlands, especially in the first half which was probably their best display so far under Grainger if we do not count the Croatia game in Stavanger. Overall it's somewhat incredible that Grainger has only lost 1 game so far given how shaky Norway's performances have been at times like Harviken almost scoring an own goal in the dying seconds against Italy in Oslo and Italy overall outplaying Norway tactically in that game. It's going to work fine for the most part when facing Albania, Belarus, Luxembourg in the play-offs but they won't be facing only those kind of opponents in the play-offs let alone at the Euros. They need to find a way to convert those draws into wins to start with.
Is Synne Jensen still in Italy? She can be an effective goal-scorer. She does not get called up nearly enough in my opinion.
Agreed! It appears Norway are more in need of offense than defense! Have Haavi from the wings feed Haug like during the days they were together at Roma! Or score goals herself!
Did you mean Spain maybe? She plays for Atletico Madrid now, she signed a contract earlier this month.
Norway will play Albania in the play-offs, the first game will in Albania in October (probably in Tirana). If they get through, they will face the winner of the Croatia-Northern Ireland tie.
The last time they played Albania: (in Albania) (in Norway) Those were qualifiers for the 2023 World Cup. The game in Norway was AFTER they had already secured qualification.
TOPPSERIEN 2024 - Matchday 16 Kolbotn 0 - 0 LSK Kvinner Lyn - 1 - 0 Røa Galteland 20 Rosenborg 2 - 0 Brann Magnusdottir 4, Berre 76 Sørum (RBK) missed penalty 59 Åsane 0 - 0 Stabæk RC: Duffy (Åsa) 90+6 (handball) RC: Kokosz (Åsa) 90+7 (dissent) Vålerenga 6 - 0 Arna Bjørnar Hørte 10, Tvedten 11, 50, 66, Brekken 43, Espås 67 Toppserien started up again this weekend after the summer break. One remarkable recent transfer is Maren Mjelde to bottom club Arna Bjørnar! She featured from start in the six goal loss to Vålerenga in Oslo yesterday. This can only mean Mjelde was not rated by Brann who signed Mia Authen from LSK instead. Authen is the most promising uncapped central defender in Norway. Brann, who lost away to Rosenborg, are drifting further away from an UWCL spot. For Brann to miss the UWCL two seasons in a row will be a massive blow to their ambitious project. They need a strong few months coming up now. TOP SCORERS 10 goals - Anna Aahjem (Brann) 9 goals - Iris Omarsdottir (Stabæk), Karina Sævik (Vålerenga) 8 goals - Elise Thorsnes (Vålerenga), Olaug Tvedten (Vålerenga) 7 goals - Rakel Engesvik (Brann), Miljana Ivanovic (LSK) 6 goals - Julie Klæboe (Røa), Marie Preus (Kolbotn) NEXT MATCHDAY - 24 Aug Arna Bjørnar - Lyn Brann - Kolbotn Røa - Åsane LSK Kvinner - Vålerenga Stabæk - Rosenborg
I believe so. Mjelde turns 35 in November, but she has hinted about wanting to end her career on a high note playing for Brann. Arna Bjørnar was probably not something she envisioned a year ago or so.