Hege Riise’s Norway wants to compete against the best. On Friday, another top ten opponent stood on the opposite half of the pitch during the private international match at the La Nucia stadium on the Spanish south-east coast. France is number five in the world rankings, seven places ahead of Norway, and arguably the strongest team Norway has faced under the 53-year-old’s leadership. In the end, the assumed difference in quality was also decisive on the pitch. Seven minutes before the end, France settled for a narrow 2-1 victory. – I am very satisfied with a lot. Of course, it’s hard to lose, but we’re strong against it. Then it was a bit tricky to get it at the end, says Riise to news. – There are many positives to take away here. It’s a bit of a composition, so it’s cool that we get to do what we do. France is not that much better than us today, so I think we deserve to be left with more than we do, says captain for the day, Guro Reiten. It was also Corinne Diacre’s women who got off to the best start, 22 minutes into the match. Kadidiatou Diani stuck behind the Norwegian defense and was rewarded with a precise breakthrough pass. Alone against the goalkeeper, the PSG player was ice cold. BACK: Aurora Mikalsen was unable to prevent France’s opening goal. Photo: Rodrigo Freitas / NTB Norwegian nightmare opponent “Les Bleues” have been a nightmare opponent for the Norwegian women in recent times. Norway’s previous victory came in 2003. Since then, eleven games have been played between the nations, either with a French victory or a draw as the outcome. However, France’s opening goal had come after a good Norwegian period, and the late goal did not break the belief in victory. Already a minute after the goal, Eikeland rose into the air, but the header crept just wide of the post. Then Sophie Roman Haug was much more precise. Marit Bratberg Lund first pulled a cheeky tunnel on the edge, before she headed in against her team-mate. The header was both accurate and precise, to 1-1 after half an hour of play. – It was a great post by Marit. It’s always fun to score, says the goalscorer to news. It was the Roma player’s fifth goal in seven international matches, an average of 0.71 goals per game. All of the goals have come in the last two months. – It’s quite raw, absolutely. She shows her strength in the box today as well, says Riise about the striker. Roman Haug made his national team debut this summer. – I have been well received by the group. We have worked well together and made a good plan, she says. FLY HIGH: Roman Haug celebrates the 1-1 score against France. Photo: JOSE JORDAN / AFP Starfall After the goal, Reiten gathered the players in a circle. The Norwegian team continued the good trend, and got off to a dream start in the second half. However, the angle was a little too sharp for Julie Blakstad. Diani was a constant moment of unrest, and succeeded once again in breaking away from the Norwegian defence. She also rounded the goalkeeper, but in an open goal she sent the ball on the wrong side of the net wall. Norway began to run out of energy towards the end of the game, which the opponent took advantage of. Seven minutes before full time, substitute Viviane Asseyi sealed the French victory with a header at the base of the post. – We looked tired and unfocused. There are no Norwegian players who manage to get into that duel, I think that is a bit weak, said news’s expert commentator Carl Erik Torp. – We become a little behind-the-scenes and they are allowed to control more. It’s because we get a little tired, says Riise about the final minutes. Riise’s aim to chastise the top nations started with a 1-4 loss to Brazil at Ullevaal. Then followed a gigantic upswing with 2-0 away to the Netherlands. Norway hung on well against France for a long time, but in the end had to settle for a loss. Norway was without many of its biggest stars. As you know, Caroline Graham Hansen has taken a break from national team play, while Ada Hegerberg is injured. There is also Maren Mjelde, while Ingrid Syrstad Engen started the game on the bench after a few days of illness.
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Norway’s women’s national football team lost against France – nightmare streak extended – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
