– We travel to the WC with a very good feeling, says national team manager Hege Riise. Riise has selected these 23 players in the squad that will travel to this summer’s soccer World Cup in New Zealand and Australia: Norway’s squad for the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand: Goalkeepers: Cecilie Fiskerstrand, Guro Pettersen, Aurora Mikalsen Defense: Anja Sønstevold, Tuva Hansen, Guro Bergsvand, Maren Mjelde, Thea Bjelde, Mathilde Harviken, Sara Hørte, Marit Bratberg Lund Midfield: Ingrid Syrstad Engen, Vilde Bøe Risa, Guro Reiten, Frida Maanum, Caroline Graham Hansen, Amalie Eikeland, Julie Blakstad, Emilie Haavi Attack: Ada Hegerberg, Sophie Roman Haug, Karina Sævik, Anna Jøsendal In addition, Elisabeth Terland, Emma Godø and Malin Brenn travel as reserve players with the actual squad to the championship. – We have discussed this squad almost to death and are very comfortable with the squad we have chosen, Riise began Monday’s press conference. – We will win the group, that is our goal. We probably consider Switzerland to be the biggest competitor there. When we win the pool, we will most likely face either Spain or Japan. It’s a nut, but we have prepared throughout the autumn against the very best, says Riise about the goals of the Norwegian national team. Wrecked talent Up front, the most tension was linked to the goalkeeper position. This spring, the competition has been between four goalkeepers in the Toppserien: Brann’s Aurora Mikalsen (27), LSK Kvinner’s Cecilie Fiskerstrand (27), Vålerenga’s Guro Pettersen (31) and Stabæk’s Sunniva Skoglund (21). Pettersen was Norway’s goalkeeper during the EC last summer, but has struggled with playing time this season in Vålerenga. Recently, she gained renewed confidence in the Oslo club when teammate Janelt Thompson was injured. Photo: Rodrigo Freitas / NTB Skoglund is seen as a great talent, but the Stabåk goalkeeper has no experience from championships. She won’t get that this summer either. – Aurora has been the one who has been fighting since we came in. In addition, we have an experienced keeer team. We are confident that we will get the best team to work, says Riise about the goalkeeper situation. There will also be a comeback for Fiskerstrand in the national team squad. – Now Cecilie is back. She was injured just before the EC, but has done well for LSK. She has signed up for this squad after getting some playing time throughout the season, Riise said. Terland wrecked Brighton player Elisabeth Terland was, on the other hand, wrecked after having been part of all of Riise’s squads since she took over as national team manager. – It is a close assessment. We have had Terland with us all the way, without having been given a role in which we bring out her rawness. In the current competition picture, she is not in the squad, but she is one of the reserves, said Riise. In the football World Cup in 2019, Norway reached the quarter-finals against England. The British also played Norway in the group stage during last year’s EC, where the Norwegian team finished third in the group and coach Martin Sjögren was fired. Since then, Hege Riise has led the Norwegian women’s national team in eleven matches. It has resulted in four wins, three draws and four losses. The WC starts on 20 July and the final is played a month later. Norway will face the Philippines, Switzerland and New Zealand in the group stage.
ttn-69