In a match where there were many positives, it was a blow to the bow that Barcelona star Caroline Graham Hansen had to leave the pitch with an injury.
The TV pictures showed that the Barcelona star grabbed his leg after the shot that gave Norway 2-0. She then had to leave the field.
– The injury is in the hamstring area. We don’t know how serious it is, but we took some precautions and took her off, says Grainger to NRK about the injury to Graham Hansen.
– With a hamstring injury, it doesn’t have to be anything serious, and it can be serious. It is difficult with hamstring injuries, continues the national team manager.
The national team travels back to Norway tonight, and Grainger says Grahan Hansen is going for tests tomorrow.
Teammate and star striker Ada Stolsmo Hegerberg does not think it is as serious as it might first appear.
– I don’t think it’s that bad, I’ll be honest. Some precautions are taken. She knows her body well, so I think it will go well, says Hegerberg and the injury.
See the goals from the match:
JUBILEE: Ada Hegerberg and the entire Norwegian team could smile all the way to the bank after a show of strength away to Croatia.
Dream start
In national team manager Gemma Grainger’s debut, the Norwegian attack fired on all cylinders. The aforementioned Hegerberg and Caroline Graham Hansen gave Grainger a dream debut and by far secured Norway’s continued play at the top level in the National League.
Ada Stolsmo Hegerberg was satisfied after the 3–0 victory away to Croatia. The star striker also got on the scoring list.
– We can improve, especially with the last pass and the finishes. For me it’s a good start. We have completed the first part in a good way, now we go in and work to improve in the second part, says the national team manager to NRK.
THUMBS UP: Gemma Grainger saw her team deliver in her debut as Norwegian national team manager.
Photo: NTB
When the referee blew the match off, the shot statistics showed 19-2 in favor of Norway. Ada Stolsmo Hegerberg and co. had ten shots on goal, against the Croatians’ one.
Until Graham Hansen’s injury, it was Norway who controlled the game. They skated out that starting block, and the first goal chance for the team in red, white and blue came after only half a minute had been played.
– Are we going to get a dream opening, commented NRK’s Patrick Rowlands when Ada Hegerberg received the ball inside Croatia’s 16-metre penalty area. But the chance ebbed away.
Nevertheless, it would not be long before Gemma Grainger could shrug her shoulders, in her debut as a coach for the Norwegian women’s soccer team. After 17 minutes, Lyon and Norway striker Ada Hegerberg sent Norway into the lead.
Midfielder Vilde Bøe Riisa delivered a millimeter-precise pass to Hegerberg, and from 10-12 meters the striker tipped the ball in at the first post.
– They are good enough
Before the match, the focus of both the British coach and NRK’s football expert Bengt Eriksen was that the team had to believe and know that they are a better team than the hosts.
– I hope she has told them that they are good enough. Because we have players who are much better than the Croatians, says NRK’s expert Bengt Eriksen in the studio before the match.
– We had all the players available. I have had a short time, so the team is a combination of what I have seen and performances in their clubs recently, says Grainger before the start of the match.
The game on Friday is one of two playoff games against Croatia. Norway is playing to stay at the highest level in the National League. Norway is in 16th place in the FIFA rankings, while Croatia is number 58.
The return match against Croatia will be played in Stavanger next Tuesday.