A 2-1 loss against Italy literally kicked Norway’s national women’s football team out of the European Championships in Switzerland Wednesday night. Sports commentators were blaming some surprise substitutions in the team’s line-up and some disappointments from star player and captain Ada Hegerberger.
The score was 0-0 at halftime after lots of missed opportunities on both sides. Then Italy’s Cristiana Girelli scored and Hegerberg failed to score on a penalty kick when she missed the goal for the second time in the championship. She did score a goal later, but then Girelli scored again and it was all over for Norway.
“I’m very disappointed, very,” Hegerberg told reporters after the match that was broadcast live on TV2. “It’s a mix of disappointment and that you’ve taken a step backwards. Lots of feelings right now, but we’ll give them a fight.”
Head coach Gemma Grainger, who’s British, said she was also disappointed but proud over the Norwegian team’s performance in the championships after they’d advanced to the quarter-finals. “I feel like we came out and dominated the second half (against Italy),” Grainger said afterwards, adding that it was “heartbreaking” when Italy still managed to score late in the match. Now Italy will meet either Sweden or England in the semi-final, with Norway watching from the sidelines.
NewsinEnglish.no staff
