Cracking the Norse code is Australia’s next challenge

Norway women’s football is so much more than a Nordic nation missing a Ballon d’Or winner.

Caroline Graham Hansen of Norway scores a penalty against South Korea. Picture: Getty Images

So much more than a Nordic nation missing a Ballon d’Or winner. Ada Hegerberg’s self-enforced World Cup absence means her country is not often appreciated for their own sake.

But there’s a proficiency and prowess in the Scandinavians that make them menacing even without the best female player in the world.

Hegerberg, last year awarded the inaugural women’s Ballon d’Or, hasn’t played for her country since 2017 in protest at the Norwegian Football Federation’s treatment of its female footballers and hindering her ability to play for Lyon.

Curiously, the 23-year-old’s country has produced better results without her, knocking off European champions the Netherlands in last September’s decisive World Cup qualifier and doing over Denmark, China and Poland to win the 2019 Algarve Cup.

They emerge second from Group A having beaten Nigeria 3-0, lost to hosts France 2-1 and defeated North Korea 2-1.

Whether that’s down to a team forced not to build around one player, or it’s a case of a country simply making recent inroads regardless is unclear.

What is certain is that Martin Sjögren’s side has other stars in their own rights.

Barcelona’s Caroline Graham Hansen is a world-class dribbler, Guro Reiten can score from distance and striker Isabell Herlovsen has taken on Hegerberg’s goalscoring responsibility with aplomb.

Ranked 12th, Norway sit in that second tier of World Cup prospects, not up there with Germany, France or England but enough of a dark horse to engineer an upset and could go as far as the final four if their defence holds firm.

The Matildas have played them three times previously, drawing 1-1 at the 2007 World Cup and edging them 2-1 at the 2011 World Cup before another close 4-3 victory at last year’s Algarve Cup.

“I haven’t watched them in a coaching sense,” said coach Ante Milicic.

“I’ve watched them when I have had the opportunity, but to be honest the work that the staff have done has been incredible preparing this team.

“I haven’t watched them as closely as I would have liked, and obviously that process starts tonight when we get back.”