Norway boast a pedigree in women’s football that few other nations could dream of.
Astonishingly the Nordic nation have reached at least the semi final of nine out of the 13 UEFA European Championships. They are one of only two nations to have won the FIFA Women’s World Cup, Olympic gold and the Euros, but they have not tasted tournament victory since their 2000 Olympic feat. By the time that Norway kick a ball this Summer, 25 years will have passed since the nation reigned victorious over women’s football.
The wait goes on in spite of another golden generation of Norwegian talent gracing women’s football. The UEFA Women’s Champions League all time top goal scorer Ada Hegerberg, FC Barcelona’s Caroline Graham Hansen, Chelsea’s Guro Reiten and Arsenal’s Frida Maanum are just a few of the talents this generation can boast among their ranks.
The pressure is on to not miss this opportunity, a notion that is reflected by the turnover of coaching staff within the nation’s set up. This summer will be the third major tournament in a row that Norway enter with a new head coach in former Wales head coach Gemma Grainger, who will be looking to improve upon the efforts of her immediate predecessors.
There is a real opportunity if they can top their group that they receive a more generous knockout draw. If they manage it, a semi final berth could beckon.
The Halfway Line takes a deeper look at the sleeping giant that is Norway, ahead of Euro 2025.
Caroline Graham Hansen is key to Norwegian success
The FC Barcelona forward scored in both legs of the play-off victory over Northern Ireland, scoring three in total. Graham Hansen has 21 goal involvements in 22 Liga F games this season for Barcelona, which followed an electric 2023/24 campaign where the Norwegian had 40 in 25 games. She also scored the winner against Norway’s opening day opponents Switzerland when the sides met in February.
Graham Hansen knows what it take to make a European Championship final. She won a penalty as an 18-year-old in 2013 in a final that saw Norway go on to lose against Germany. They have since had two group stage exits at European Championships, one without scoring a goal. But Graham Hansen has enjoyed incredible success at club level since winning consecutive trebles with Barcelona. Graham Hansen’s close control, range of passing make her the dead eyed finisher that on her day few could hold a candle to.
Did you know? Graham Hansen was a child chess prodigy and played competitively before turning 10.
Leading the line is captain Ada Hegerberg
You could be forgiven for thinking that Ada Hegerberg is in the twilight years of her career given the breadth of her achievements, but she doesn’t turn 30 until a week after Norway’s first match at EURO 2025. At her best, the first ever Ballon d’Or Féminin winner redefines what seems possible with a ball at her feet but she has struggled to have an impact of late, after a number of seasons plagued with injury. The striker has not played more than 16 league games since 2018-19, scoring only four goals in 12 matches this season.
Hegerberg leads the team on and off the pitch; she refused a call up to the World Cup in 2019 due to the Norwegian FA’s attitude towards the women’s game. Her five year absence from the national team ended before the last European Championships, and she returned to a set up that had an equal pay agreement. She faces competition up front from Manchester United forward Elizabeth Terland but that may only help her to thrive. If Hegerberg can find even a sniff of the form that saw her win that inaugural best player in the world gong, Norway could go deep in the tournament.
Norway Players to Watch at Euro 2025
When considering the talent on offer for Norway, we are spoilt for choice. Chelsea’s imperious forward Guro Reiten is a good place to start. Reiten has won six Barclays Women’s Super League titles, four Adobe Women’s FA Cups and three League Cups in her time with the west London club. Reiten scored the vital winner against Arsenal in the WSL for Chelsea at Stamford Bridge this season, a win that all but saw off their north London neighbours from the title race.
From a defensive perspective, Bayern Munich’s Tuva Hansen will be key. A talented full back with an eye for goal, Hansen’s charisma did much to ensure the inaugural World Seven’s tournament was a success this summer. After being booked for celebrating by taking her shirt off, Hansen blew a kiss to the referee before Bayern brought the tournament to life with a string of hilarious celebrations.
Versatile former Barcelona defensive midfielder Ingrid Engen will be relied upon heavily as the biggest talent in the defensive half of the pitch for Norway. While Fiorentina goalkeeper Cecilie Fiskerstrand has been one of Norway’s in form players in national team colours this year. Fiskerstrand was exceptional in clean sheets against Iceland and Switzerland, two sides they will meet again this Summer.
Frida Maanum will also be pivotal in any success Norway have this Summer. Recently crowned a Champions League winner with Arsenal, the attacking midfielder was key to the style in which the Gunners played to win the trophy. Her ability to strike the ball from distance is a lethal asset for Norway and can create a goal out of nothing, even if it’s from a deflection or a ball spilt by the opposition goalkeeper.
The Halfway Line asked Maanum earlier this year which of her Norway team mates we should look out for ahead of the tournament and she picked out Manchester United striker Elizabeth Terland. Maanum explained why with a laugh:
“I think obviously, I don’t want to mention players in other clubs, especially in England! But I’d have to probably mention Elisabeth Terland. She’s been great for [Manchester] United, she came last season. I think she’s a great talent to have within our squad as well, she gives a lot to the team. So I’ll probably highlight her.”
Head Coach Gemma Grainger ready to steer the ship at Euro 2025
Two European Championships in a row without exiting their group is simply not good enough for a nation with Norway’s record. And that was what did it for Martin Sjögren, now of Hammarby. Appointed in his place was a legend of women’s football, Hege Riise. Placed in a favourable group at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Norway progressed in second place behind Switzerland before being outclassed by Japan in the Round of 16.
The tournament is best remembered from a Norway perspective by the very public fallout after star player Graham Hansen criticised Riise following a 0-0 group stage draw with Switzerland. Newly appointed Gemma Grainger is a head coach to steady the ship, with the Norwegian FA desperate to avoid any repeat of that type of mid-tournament scandal.
Grainger was part of the England coaching set up for almost 10 years. She managed multiple England youth level sides. The 42 year old from Middlesborough was part of the coaching staff for England’s run to the semi final of EURO 2017 before becoming Wales head coach. She came within a match of the Welsh’s first FIFA World Cup but for a heart breaking winner in extra time from Fabienne Humm for Switzerland in Zurich.
Last year she took the reigns of Norway and led them to EURO 2025. A disappointing initial qualifying group phase saw Norway slip into the play offs finishing behind Italy and Netherlands in a tight group. The Scandinavians proceeded to blitz their way through the play offs, storming past Albania with a 14-0 aggregate victory before a 7-0 aggregate win over Northern Ireland secured a place at EURO 2025.
In March this year The Halfway Line spoke with Frida Maanum about Norway at EURO 2025 and the new head coach.
“We have a new coach now with Gemma [Grainger], I think it’s been working really well under her you could see the progression in our game and in us as a team. So I think we have all the chances to go far in the euros, but then for us to take each game at a time and I think we have the potential in the team,” Maanum said.
The English head coach evidently has the faith of the players but it will remain a concern for Grainger that Norway have not won against a side ranked in the top ten of the FIFA rankings since 2022. Now placed 16th in the rankings, they will hope this summer under Grainger can boost them up once more.
Norway stats to impress your friends
- While Norway’s men await a first major tournament since 2000, in the same period, Norway’s women have not missed one.
- Norway have been drawn in the same group as the hosts of the tournament in every major tournament since EURO 2017. They have lost on each occasion. Opening night against Switzerland in Zurich is the perfect opportunity to set the record straight.
Spotlight on a legend: Ellen Wille
Most football legends derive their status from what they have done on the pitch but it’s what Ellen Wille did off it that both Norway and the world owe her so much for. It was at the 45th FIFA Congress in Mexico City in 1986 that Wille tabled a motion for something the world had never seen, a FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Wille spoke in front of a room over over 100 FIFA delegates, all men, about the fact that in all the documentation for the congress women’s football was not mentioned once. She also spoke passionately about the need for a FIFA sanctioned Women’s World Cup and Women’s Olympic football tournament. She convinced the FIFA President, and a couple of years later FIFA hosted their first Invitational Women’s World Cup, before the very first official FIFA Women’s World Cup took place in 1991. By 1996, women’s football was included in the Olympic Games for the first time. Football fans the world over have a lot to thank the woman known as ‘the mother of Norwegian football’ for.
Norway’s record against Euro 2025 group opponents
Norway have faced two of their three group opposition this Summer twice in the UEFA Nations League this year. Back to back draws against Iceland were bookended by victory home and away against Switzerland. The upcoming match against the Swiss will see Arsenal team mates Frida Maanum and Lia Wälti go head to head.
Gemma Grainger’s side also faced Finland in qualifying for EURO 2025, beating them 4-0 in Oslo before being held to a 1-1 draw after a late equaliser from Emma Koivisto for the Finnish team.
Fantasy WEURO players to keep an eye on
Norway’s goal for Euro 2025
Undoubtedly Norway have some of the best players on the planet right now, enough to set the tournament alight. While the goal for this women’s football powerhouse is always victory, a semi final appearance where many had written them off would feel like progress.
