– Here we see why she is the world’s best footballer. She is divine, said Aleksander Schau in news’s half-time broadcast from the match. He was talking about the goal Graham Hansen scored in the 13th minute. The Barcelona star, who came second in the Gullball award this autumn, feinted away several players first to the right – and then to the left – before she easily put the ball into the goal. – She just plays the ball into the goal, said news expert commentator Bengt Eriksen. Norway met Northern Ireland in the decisive match for a place in the European Championship play-offs in the summer of 2025. – I was a bit lucky. It was actually a post that hit the mark. The goalkeeper fumbled the ball into the goal. You have to have a bit of luck, said Graham Hansen himself to news after the match. On the hunt for records It was Graham Hansen’s 50th national team goal. Of these, a total of 12 have come against Northern Ireland, which the profile has met nine times. She is the seventh Norwegian female player to reach the milestone and is now one goal ahead of Ada Stolsmo Hegerberg. Graham Hansen is still some way up to Isabell Herlovsen, as Norway’s top scorer with 67 goals. – It’s cool and huge. She is a fantastically good player and it is very nice to see her just score and score. We need that, said teammate Maren Mjelde about Graham Hansen’s milestone. BEST OF ALL: news expert Aleksander Schau believes Caroline Graham Hansen is the world’s best soccer player. Photo: Truls Antonsen / news Straight to the EC Graham Hansen’s goal sent Norway up 1-0 in the home meeting with Northern Ireland in the last match of the EC play-off. Since Norway led 4–0 from the away meeting, all doubts about the European Championship ticket to 2025 were put to one side. If it wasn’t already, the rest of the match became a formality. The EC is played in Switzerland, and Norway is one of 16 qualified teams. – It feels fantastic. It’s been such a long journey, we’ve been trying to qualify for a long time. I am very happy that the job is done, said national team manager Gemma Grainger to EC after the match. – It was a late tackle, and best to replace her. I think she is okay, said Gemma Grainger about the injury to Ingrid Syrstad Engen. Changed profiles Despite several great chances, it was only 1-0 at half-time. – We have created enough chances to score more goals. We are satisfied that we are creating chances, but not satisfied that we have not scored more, said assistant coach Ingvild Stensland to news during the break. Only a minute after the break, Stensland’s plea was heard when Frida Maanum added to make it 2-0. Ada Stolsmo Hegerberg had already been taken off the field at half-time, before Caroline Graham Hansen was taken off after 63 minutes. GOT A HALF: Ada Stolsmo Hegerberg played the first half for Norway and had several chances, without finding the back of the net this time. Photo: Fredrik Varfjell / NTB Goals with sting in Even without the biggest profiles, Norway managed more than well enough. 12 minutes before the end, substitute Synne Jensen made the result 3–0 with a shot that went through a Northern Irish player. – Jensen just dives over the center line and into the Northern Irish half of the pitch, and then the shot comes. Bang – via a Northern Irish girl, then it’s 3-0. There was a sting in it, said Bengt Eriksen about the goal. GOING TO SWITZERLAND: Norway is ready for the EC next summer. Photo: Fredrik Varfjell / NTB – Absolutely beautiful With 7-0 overall, Norway was thus finally ready for the EC – after a total of four play-off matches. – We wanted to qualify directly, but looked at the reasons why we didn’t, and will improve. These four matches have made us a better team, Gemma Grainger told news after the match. – It is very, very delicious. I’ve been waiting a bit for this here. Absolutely lovely to stand here and have an EC ticket in the box, said Maren Mjelde. Caroine Graham Hansen called it “delicious” that the EC ticket is secured. – I think we play two solid matches. We are professionals and do the job, so it is great that we are going to the EC, said Graham Hansen. Published 03.12.2024, at 19.50 Updated 03.12.2024, at 20.06
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– She is divine – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
