Day seven of the Women’s World Cup saw Spain and Japan secure their places in the round of 16 after picking up big wins against Zambia and Costa Rica. There was also a delightfully chaotic game between Ireland and Canada in the pouring rain in Perth.
Ireland’s talismanic captain Katie McCabe scored the country’s first ever Women’s World Cup goal with a ridiculous Olimpico from a corner. Ireland dominated the first half of the game but ran out of gas as Canada made some much-needed changes in the second half to secure all three points. The game ended 2-1 and unfortunately it ended Ireland’s chances of going through to the round of 16.
Outside of the day seven goalfest (10 in 3 games), there was another update on one of the biggest storylines of this World Cup, and it just got a little bit weirder.
Many would have seen the shocking way Norway have started this tournament. First, with an opening game defeat to New Zealand and then with a turgid 0-0 draw against Switzerland. Norway are without a win in six games, their last victory coming in a friendly in February. They can still get through to the round of 16 if they beat the Philippines and Switzerland defeat New Zealand.
Norway haven’t just been unlucky with these results, the performances have been shockingly bad. Last year, we thought Norway had hit rock bottom after crashing out of the group stages of the World Cup and suffering an 8-0 defeat to England. The car crash Euros led to Swedish head coach Martin Sjogren stepping down and former international Hege Riise taking over.
The change was meant to bring a refresh to the team but it somehow has made things even worse. Riise is known to English fans for being interim England head coach after Phil Neville stepped down and before Sarina Wiegman arrived. During her tenure, Team GB and England struggled, there was little personality on and off the pitch, players seem to lack a sense of direction or gameplan and you can see all of this in the current Norway team too.
During ITV’s coverage of Norway-Switzerland, Arsenal midfielder Kim Little (who played in the Team GB Tokyo 2020 squad) and England/Chelsea forward Fran Kirby discussed working under Riise. Little said: "She has a very interesting leadership style. She's quite quiet and introverted, and the assistant coaches (during the Olympics) were more dominant. That’s something I hadn't experienced before so she was a very different coach to what I had experienced before, in terms of style. The changes she'd made to the team are quite out of character for her, so I'm quite surprised by that.” Riise had dropped star winger Caroline Graham Hansen for the second game.
Kirby added: "We were all a bit shocked she was appointed in the first place to be honest. Not because of her credentials because what she’s achieved has been amazing, but because of the language barrier.
"We didn't really know what to expect coming into it but she was a quieter character. She let the assistants handle most of the meetings and most of the tactical stuff. But she definitely knows how she wants to play, and I think it's very much how her Norwegian side played when she was in it. She tries to emulate that in how she's setting up her team and how she wants certain players to play.
“It was an interesting time to have a different type of leadership, She wasn't the one coming in, barking orders or doing a big speech before the game to get you fired up. It was a lot more calm and chilled”.
Little and Kirby both hinted at a pretty hands off approach from the head coach and perhaps that is what has led to some difficult results and bad performances for Norway. But its the quotes and comments coming from the camp that have been even more concerning.
It started seconds before kick off in the Switzerland game when Ada Hegerberg disappeared from the pre match huddle and ran down the tunnel. She never returned to the field and was replaced in the starting line up. She said she had picked up a groin injury and couldn’t play, her teammates looked baffled by the situation.
Things got even more interesting after the game when Caroline Graham Hansen launched into a monologue about the mess in the Norway team while chatting to a Norwegian journalist in the mixed zone.
Here’s the exchange handily translated by MichaelEmilio_:
“Caro, you were benched today. What do you make of that?”
CGH — “I think it speaks for itself. I don’t even know what to say. There’s a lot I want to say, and there’s a lot that’s already been said. There’s also a lot of things one disagrees on, but it’ll probably always be that way. It’s unfortunate that you can’t have confidence in yourself without being put down for it.”
“What are you thinking about specifically when you say that?”
CGH — “I wont elaborate any further. Cleaning up the mess publicly helps no-one.”
“Do you feel like you’re being punished for something you’ve done, or?”
CGH — “No comment. I don’t want to put focus on these things ahead of our next match.”
“How do you feel and react as a player when this sort of stuff happens?”
CGH — “I feel that my hands are tied behind my back. It would’ve been a bad outcome for me no matter what I had said/done ahead of this match. I can’t really do anything about it, it’s a disappointing situation when I’ve been here for so long. People can say whatever they want about me, but I know I’m in good form and I know what I deserve. There’s certain things I can’t do anything about though.”
“What reasons have you been given ahead of today?”
CGH — “Well… I guess there’s no point in standing here talking about that now. Let’s keep it internally, at least until the tournament is over. We still have everything to play for and we’re not out yet.”
“Expert Karl Erik Torp claims that one has failed as a coach and a leader if they can’t fit you, one of the world’s best players into the team. How do you resonate with that comment?”
CGH — “No matter what I say now it’s going to be perceived wrong, as I said I’m bound with my hands behind my back. In this moment I choose to put my teammates and team ahead of the situation between me and the coach.”
“How’s your motivation?”
CGH — “I will do everything for Norway, and I will do my best to help the team. The rest is up to the ones in charge.”
Damning to say the least. Then, less than 24 hours later, Graham Hansen had returned to the press, this time to retract everything she said….while Riise was standing behind her. The image is giving hostage situation. Graham Hansen was loyal to previous manager Sjogren and after his exit she took a brief step back from international duty. She has said previously that she wasn’t "very invested in the new plans" under Riise.
Andre said it best on Twitter, comparing this Norway side to “toxic reality tv” stars. Jessy Parker Humphreys referred to them as the Real Housewives of Oslo in their newsletter. All in all, there’s some weird shit going on over there and I’m sure we will find out more details as the tournament goes on, but for now keep an eye out for more confessionals and updates from the best reality TV show out there right now.
Something to read….
Australian Indigenous players slam Women's World Cup funding
What an unreal drama - what do we not know? - Norwegian press on this chaos
Till tomorrow!