Japan defeated Norway 3–1 in the quarterfinals of the Women’s World Cup. Compared to expectations, Norway has underperformed in the last three value tournaments. In the previous World Championships, Norway missed the quarter-finals, in last summer’s European Championships, the tournament went to the first group, and now the competition ended in the quarter-finals.
Sports expert Essi Sainio says that the mere talk of underperformance tells that the team has the potential to succeed. He does not believe that Norwegian football has cause for a crisis. There are several good players in the team, and there will be quality players in the future.
– The problems are elsewhere than the players. It’s about how to play, what the game plans are like and what the coaching management is like. In addition, it is necessary to find the right roles for the really significant players so that they can be utilized, Sainio estimates.
Expert Liisa-Maija Rautio agrees. He states that Norway must focus on the psychological side – the team’s atmosphere must be confident and open in the future.
– I don’t believe in a crisis lasting for years. Norway has a problem that needs to be solved – and now we are measuring how to solve it. Norway should be able to build the basic pillars of team play, Rautio states.
Neither of the experts directly says that the problem is, for example, the head coach Hege Riise. More eyes should be turned to the team’s leading players.
For example, during the opening group, there were gravel sounds from the Norwegian team when the star player Caroline Graham Hansen commented harshly on his role in the national team.
– With what attitude and mentality does the team play in value competitions? I think the best players are those who play for the team, says Sainio.
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In the Norwegian media, the national team receives strong criticism, when, for example, the Norwegian broadcasting company NRK describes the World Cup rough country into a disaster.
– It is very unfortunate that personal mistakes led to setbacks, NRK’s expert Elise Thorsnes described after the match against Japan.
NRK’s expert Alexander Schau poured in full-blown criticism on the neck of the national team. According to him, the team’s performances were below the bar.
– These were terrible World Cups. We have to be open and honest about it. The performance is far too weak, and not even close to what we can expect from our team, Schau estimates.
Another of Norway’s star players Ada Hegerberg played 17 minutes in the match against Japan and remained scoreless in the World Cup tournament. He commented on the decision of the World Cup match for NRK.
– We achieved our goal, which was to progress from the first group to the next. I think we had a chance to achieve more. We have to aim higher if we want to compete at a higher level. We need to set standards and figure out what we can do better next time. I think we gave everything in the World Cup tournament, Hegerberg said.
Japan has assured
Japan took a 1-0 lead after 15 minutes when the ball went into Norway’s goal by an own player Ingrid Syrstad Engen through the foot. A moment later, Norway Guro Reiten scored the equalizer.
At the beginning of the second half, Japan took a 2–1 lead when Vilde Böe Risa passed the ball to Japan in his own penalty area Risa Shimizu on.
– I have to raise my hand and apologize for that goal. I know it shouldn’t happen at this level, Böe Risa said Norwegian media VG.
In the 81st minute of the game, Japan Hinata Miyazawa scored a 3–1 final score from the counterattack. In this tournament, Japan has excelled especially in counter-attacks. With their help, the team, among other things, defeated Spain 4–0 in the final round of the preliminary groups.
– I have to take my hat off to Japan’s playing, when both the defensive and offensive work is done humbly, Sainio describes.
Expert and Helmarie’s head coach Marko Saloranta says that Japan’s concern in the future is the defense of special situations. Although Japan’s special situations are well designed, the team has a lot of undersized players. Japan will face either Sweden or the United States in the quarterfinals.
– Norway scored a goal from a cross and got the best of them. Japan has to think about that. Their strength so far has been blocking those balls, but that is a question mark for Japan, Saloranta estimates.