Norway’s women’s national team goes on the field against Northern Ireland on Thursday to break a terrible statistic: Over eight hours without scoring in the European Championship play-offs.
Less than 20 minutes ago
–
Norway has won medals in four of five European Championships in the 2000s (silver in 2005 and 2013, bronze in 2001 and 2009), but in recent matches it seems that a curse has rested on the team. This has led to a complete goal drought and four losses in a row.
Norway has not scored in the European Championship play-offs since the opening minutes of the semi-final in 2013. Then Marit Fiane Christensen scored in the 3rd minute against Denmark in Norrköping. Since then, it was a 0-1 loss to Germany in the final, and four years later Norway plunged into the group stage after the results 0-1 (Netherlands), 0-2 (Belgium) and 0-1 (Denmark).
Together with the last 118 minutes in the semifinals nine years ago, the final time is 478 European Championship minutes without scoring. Including extra time, the eight-hour goal drought has already passed before the kick-off in Southampton on Thursday.
– The previous European Championships went badly, but in the two before that it went very well. I think it is wrong to say curse, says team captain Maren Mjelde to NTB.
– We know what happened last. Now we come to a European Championship we have prepared well for, and we intend to turn away.
Penalties
Norway has by no means been without chances during the prolonged drought. Among other things, the team has abused three penalty kicks. Trine Rønning and Solveig Gulbrandsen missed from the 11-meter mark in the final against Germany in 2013, Caroline Graham Hansen in the group match against Denmark four years later. There have also been several post hits and canceled goals.
It has not been completely impossible to get the ball in goal in a regulated way. After the semifinal against Denmark in 2013 ended 1-1 after extra innings, the Norwegians impressed in the penalty shootout and won it clearly after Gulbrandsen, Cathrine Dekkerhus, Mjelde and Rønning all scored. But goals in penalty shootouts are not counted in goal statistics.
– It is definitely time to deal with the target drought. There were many who did not vote in the previous European Championships. That’s how football is, there are times when it’s not true, but we must be able to turn it around. We showed in the last World Cup that we have taken steps from that European Championship play-off, and now it has been a few more years, says Guro Reiten to NTB.
Self-confidence and experience
Norway was one of three nations that won all their matches in the European Championship qualifiers, and the team has won its last five matches before the seriousness starts in England.
– We come to the European Championships with a lot of confidence and a little more experience. We know what it takes to succeed, so we can hope that we get it done, says Reiten.
Everything is in place for the goal drought to be broken against Northern Ireland, a team Norway beat 6-0 both in Belfast and Stavanger in the European Championship qualifiers.
– Of course we want to cheer for some goals again. That is what we hunt all the time, says Mjelde.
In the qualification, Caroline Graham Hansen (3), Amalie Eikeland (2) and Guro Reiten scored in the away match against Northern Ireland, Lisa-Marie Utland (2), Graham Hansen (2), Reiten and Ingrid Syrstad Engen in the home match.
–
