Watch the goals in the video window above! Video with permission from NRK.
Norway looked set to stop ‘Les Bleues’ from a draw in Spain at La Nucía after a magnificent header from Sophie Román Haug.
But sloppy play from the penalty area after a corner kick allowed France substitute Viviane Asseyi to score the match-winner just ten minutes before full time.
– Actually, we’re left with a good feeling. I think we get along, especially in the first half, Anja Sønstevold tells TV 2.
– Then we are a little behind in the second half, but when we follow the plan so well, it’s difficult to come in at the end and not get anything anymore.
In a close match, Norway stayed low from the start and let France control the game, but Hege Riise’s side seized every opportunity and gave it their all in transitions.
– We are in a good defensive position. We might be a little short at times but we are playing against France and we want to be difficult to score, Guro Reiten told TV 2 after the match.
– But what we do with the ball, the calm and the attacks we can conjure up there – bodes well.
The day before meeting this summer’s EC semi-finalist, you got a taste of what was to come at the Norwegian national team’s training ground:
Marit Bratberg Lund fired the ball out of bounds and ‘curled’ it in the box over Sophie Román Haug’s head. Again, and again, and again, the duo played.
And it was seen after half an hour of play at the Estadio Olimpico Camilo Cano in the Spanish La Nucía.
The Norway left-back dribbled free on his wing, looked up and screwed in a cross just over 187cm from French stopper Wendie Renard.
Just behind, Román Haug burst forward and slotted the ball past goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin for his fifth goal in his last four international matches.
Then France’s Kadidiatou Diani had sent “Les Bleues” ahead early in the game after escaping from the Norway defense and outsmarting Aurora Mikalsen in the Norway goal.
Norway struggled more at the start of the second half. Aurora Mikalsen was the first to miss an Ella Palis shot on goal.
Then Diani was once again played alone with the Norway goalkeeper. The French striker rounded Mikalsen, but his finish was scored from a corner.
