logo
Signe Gaupset Threatening To Be Breakout Star Of UEFA Women's Euro

Signe Gaupset Threatening To Be Breakout Star Of UEFA Women's Euro

Forbesa day ago
Norway's Signe Gaupset (left) celebrates with team-mate Elisabeth Terland after scoring their side's ... More first goal of the game during the UEFA Women's Euro 2025 Group A match at Stockhorn Arena in Thun, Switzerland. Picture date: Thursday July 10, 2025. (Photo by Nick Potts/PA Images via Getty Images)
At 20 years of age, Signe Gauspet made UEFA Women's Euro history last week and hopes to propel Norway into their first major tournament semi-final tomorrow.
The buccaneering forward started her first game against Iceland last Thursday and demonstrated her prodigious talents by scoring twice and providing two assists in Norway's 4-3 win. It was the first time that the former World, European and Olympic champions had manged to win all three of their group games at a UEFA Women's Euro tournament.
The last of their international triumphs came in 2000, five years before Gaupset was born. Possessing a stellar forward line consisting of leading players from Arsenal, Barcelona, Chelsea and OL Lyonnes, living up to those past achievements has become a burden for the current generation of Norwegians. They had humiliatingly been eliminated from the group stage of the last two editions of the UEFA Women's Euro in 2017 and 2022.
Despite failing to catch the eye during their opening two matches in Switzerland, Norway won both and secured top spot in Group A with a game to spare. This meant they could rest their first-choice attackers and Gaupset, who had already impressed with her direct running style in the second half against Finland, was given a rare opportunity to start.
She grabbed her chance, becoming the youngest-ever player in the competition's history to score twice in a game. She scored and assisted with both right and left foot earning herself the Visa Player of the Match award for her performance.
THUN, SWITZERLAND - JULY 10: Signe Gaupset of Norway poses for a photo with the VISA Player Of The ... More Match award after the team's victory and subsequent progression into the quarter-finals following the UEFA Women's EURO 2025 Group A match between Norway and Iceland at Arena Thun on July 10, 2025 in Thun, Switzerland. (Photo by Alex Caparros - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
The UEFA Technical Observer Panel said "with two goals and two assists, she was influential in the match when it was in the balance. She was also high up in terms of key passes, penalty-box entries and among the leaders in ball carries, showing her influence on the game."
Speaking to SheKicks magazine after the game, Gaupset admitted 'that's really good for me. Great moments to be with such good players that play in better leagues than I do. It's a good experience for me. They also help me a lot on the pitch today so, yeah, I'm really happy.'
Gaupset had already come to international prominence as an 18-year-old with her performances for SK Brann in the UEFA Women's Champions League. Her ability to rise to the biggest occasion demonstrated by her last-minute equaliser against Olympique Lyonnais (now OL Lyonnes) in Bergen.
BERGEN, NORWAY - DECEMBER 21: Players of Brann celebrate at full-time during the UEFA Women's ... More Champions League group stage match between SK Brann and Olympique Lyonnais at Asane Arena on December 21, 2023 in Bergen, Norway. (Photo by Alex Pantling - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
From the age of 10, Gaupset played the game obsessively before and after school. She also recorded everything she learned in a set of meticulous training diaries aimed at perfecting her trade which she still maintains as a professional. Her assistant coach at SK Brann Knut Slatleim once described Gaupset as possessing "a determination that is not quite normal."
Like her national team captain, Ada Hegerberg, Gaupset hails from the Molde municipality. One of her most treasured possessions is a pair of Hegerberg's boots. Gaupset signed for IL Sandviken (now SK Brann) before her 16th birthday. Aged 17 she was a matchwinner in the Norwegian Cup final, scoring twice against Stabæk at the national Ullevaal stadium in Oslo.
Englishman Martin Ho worked with Gaupset for two seasons. The new Tottenham Hotspur head coach told me 'as a player for the national team, you've seen the impact she's had. In the game against Iceland she scored two goals and two assists, which showed the level of her quality. When she got the opportunity, she performed at a really high level.'
Norwegian head coach Gemma Grainger now has the dilemma of trying to find a place for her against Italy tomorrow in a forward line where Caroline Graham Hansen, Frida Maanum and Guro Reiten are established starters. Nonetheless, Grainger was delighted with Gaupset's performance against Iceland. "She takes her opportunities. Tonight it's so nice to see her step onto the pitch and express herself. I see her do that every week for her club; I've seen her do it in the Women's Champions League, and now I've seen her do it here."
THUN, SWITZERLAND - JULY 10: Gemma Grainger, Head Coach of Norway, speaks to the media in a post ... More match press conference alongside Signe Gaupset of Norway after the team's victory and subsequent progression into the quarter-finals following the UEFA Women's EURO 2025 Group A match between Norway and Iceland at Arena Thun on July 10, 2025 in Thun, Switzerland. (Photo by Chris Ricco - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
Ho believes the best is yet to come from Gaupset. "I think that's what Signe needs sometimes is the opportunity to go and perform at national level and show what she's capable of. When she got the chance the other day, she took it with both hands. She's a wonderful talent, as everyone can see. She's high quality on the pitch, and plays with no fear, lots of courage, she's very brave. More importantly, she has a difference to her game that not a lot of people have, that maverick approach where she can pop up and do something in an instant, even when she's not in the game."
Gaupset is one of only five members of the Norwegian squad who play in their domestic league. Her performances in Switzerland will no doubt alert the leading clubs in Europe to her talents. Ho said "the national team have a wonderful player on their hands. Hopefully she gets an opportunity to play in the quarter final, and she can go and show everyone more of what she's about.'
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Report – Inter Milan & Spezia In Advanced Talks For Talented Greek Center-Back
Report – Inter Milan & Spezia In Advanced Talks For Talented Greek Center-Back

Yahoo

time11 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Report – Inter Milan & Spezia In Advanced Talks For Talented Greek Center-Back

Negotiations between Inter Milan and Spezia for up-and-coming defender Christos Alexiou have reached 'advanced' stages. According to Italian journalist Nicolo Schira via FCInterNews, the youngster should join the Aquilotti on loan. Francesco Pio Esposito made a name for himself at Stadio Alberto Picco last season. Therefore, Spezia see Christos Alexiou as the next promising talent to benefit from regular minutes in their backline. Inter Milan & Spezia in Talks for Christos Alexiou The two clubs are ironing out the final details, with a deal expected to come soon. Indeed, Alexiou should join the Serie B side on a season-long loan. However, whether Spezia would have a buyout option remains uncertain. Meanwhile, it would be Alexiou's first taste of senior football in Italy. He has been part of the Primavera squad since joining Inter from Atromitos in 2021. Furthermore, he captained the U20 side and featured in the UEFA Youth League with great success. Alexiou's impressive showings at the youth level have not gone unnoticed. Indeed, Greek powerhouse Olympiacos showed interest in his services toward the end of last season. However, talks between the clubs never took off as Alexiou looks close to joining Spezia.

Steelers fans get surprise with LB Patrick Queen on NFL Network Top 100
Steelers fans get surprise with LB Patrick Queen on NFL Network Top 100

Yahoo

time11 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Steelers fans get surprise with LB Patrick Queen on NFL Network Top 100

Once the NFL Network announced that Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Cameron Heyward was the No. 83 player on their Top 100 players for 2025, we figured we'd have a nice, long wait until we saw another Steeler on the list. But lo and behold, in something of a surprise, the NFL Network announced that Steelers inside linebacker Patrick Queen is the No. 75 player. Queen came to the Steelers as a free agent in 2024 from the Baltimore Ravens. Queen got off to something of a slow start, but by the second half of the season, you could see he was much more comfortable in the offense and started making more plays. 2024 wasn't Queen's best statistical season, but he did finish with a team-high 129 total tackles. This season, Queen should be able to build on 2024 and produce even better paired up in the middle of the Steelers defense with Payton Wilson. This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers fans get surprise with LB Patrick Queen on NFL Network Top 100

George Kittle's all-around excellence earns him the honor of top tight end in AP rankings
George Kittle's all-around excellence earns him the honor of top tight end in AP rankings

Yahoo

time11 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

George Kittle's all-around excellence earns him the honor of top tight end in AP rankings

Perhaps no position requires a wider range of skills to succeed in the NFL than tight ends, who are asked to thrive as receivers in the middle of the field as well as being key parts to the run and pass games with their blocking. While many teams divide those roles among multiple players, George Kittle's ability to do it all for the San Francisco 49ers as one of the most efficient receivers and top blockers helped him score the honor of being voted the top tight end in the league by The Associated Press. A panel of eight AP Pro Football Writers ranked the top five players at tight end, basing selections on current status entering the 2025 season. First-place votes were worth 10 points. Second- through fifth-place votes were worth 5, 3, 2 and 1 points. Kittle got five first-place votes and three seconds to win the voting. Las Vegas' Brock Bowers was the only other player selected on all eight ballots and came in second with two first-place votes, five seconds and one fifth. Kansas City's Travis Kelce got the other first-place vote and finished third, followed by Arizona's Trey McBride and Baltimore's Mark Andrews. Detroit's Sam LaPorta and Minnesota's T.J. Hockenson also received votes. 1. GEORGE KITTLE, San Francisco 49ers Kittle is coming off one of his most productive seasons as a receiver, catching 78 passes for 1,106 yards and eight TDs for an injury-riddled San Francisco offense. He led all tight ends and ranked third overall with 2.62 yards per route run in a sign of how efficient he is as a receiver. Kittle also remains one of the top blocking tight ends, helping him earn first or second-team All-Pro honors in five of the past seven seasons. 2. BROCK BOWERS, Las Vegas Raiders Bowers burst on the scene during a record-setting rookie season when his 1,194 yards receiving were the most ever by a rookie tight end and his 112 catches were the most ever by any rookie. Bowers was a first-team All-Pro and quickly established himself as perhaps the top receiving threat at the position. 3. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs Kelce is one of the most productive tight ends ever, with his 1,004 catches and 12,151 yards receiving ranking third all time at the position. But he showed signs of slowing after turning 35 last October. He still managed 97 catches for 823 yards, but his 8.5 yards per reception were down 4 yards from his career average entering 2024 as he had significant drops in yards after catch and missed tackles forced. 4. TREY MCBRIDE, Arizona Cardinals McBride has made steady improvement since being drafted in the second round in 2022 and reached star status last season, when his 111 catches and 1,146 yards receiving trailed only Bowers among tight ends. The only thing missing for McBride was success in the red zone, where he had only two TD catches — tied for the second-fewest ever for any player in a 100-catch season. 5. MARK ANDREWS, Baltimore Ravens Andrews has been one of the top tight ends for years, but his production has started to tail off since he was an All-Pro in 2021. After missing significant time with injuries in 2023, Andrews had 55 catches for 673 yards and led all tight ends with 11 TD receptions last season. Unfortunately for Andrews, his season might be best remembered for a dropped 2-point conversion late in a 27-25 playoff loss to Buffalo. ___ AP NFL:

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store