Last eight and 100% record - so why are Norway fans unimpressed?

BBC News

3 days ago

In Gemma Grainger's first news conference at Euro 2025, the Norway boss made her intentions for the tournament clear."A quarter-final will be enough for me," she said when asked what the ideal birthday present would be.The Middlesbrough-born manager got her wish and Norway will face Italy in the last eight on Wednesday (20:00 BST) - the day before Grainger's 43rd birthday.They were the first team to book their place in the last eight and did so with a game to spare.By beating Switzerland, Finland and Iceland, Norway won all three group games at a Women's Euros for the first time in their history.Their tournament on paper has so far been a success, but performances have been unconvincing - in a group widely considered the easiest - and supporters are sceptical.The two-time winners are not being talked about as contenders to lift the trophy, which doesn't bother Grainger."For us it's not so important that people speak about us," Grainger told BBC Sport. "We are really happy with the progress we are making."Our goal was to get out of the group and we just take a step at a time. We are very happy to go under the radar."
Ranked 16th in the world, Norway came from behind to beat hosts Switzerland in their Euro 2025 opener, they benefited from an own goal and needed a late winner to secure a 2-1 victory over Finland, while they conceded twice after the 84th minute in a nervy 4-3 win against Iceland."I have to be honest, there are a bit mixed feelings around the team," Norwegian journalist Synne Sofie Christiansen told BBC Sport."They haven't made it easy for us journalists to cover the matches because they lost control of the games and they haven't really appeared to be a good collective team."For us watching the games, we feel it is shocking that it's not better when you see the names on paper."Norway's team is stacked with attacking superstars, featuring 2018 Ballon d'Or winner Ada Hegerberg, Barcelona star Caroline Graham Hansen, Arsenal's Frida Maanum and Chelsea's Guro Reiten.But once again the quartet have been unable to transform their club form to the international stage and have not yet shown their true potential in Switzerland."In general, people are quite critical," Christiansen added. "They are not very impressed with how Norway have performed and fans are asking why it is not possible to play better with such superstars in the team."
Grainger stepped down as Wales manager in January 2024 to take charge of Norway, succeeding Hege Riise.Norway were eliminated in the last 16 of the 2023 World Cup - a tournament overshadowed by reports of conflict in the camp under Riise.Eighteen months into the role, Grainger has repaired relationships within the team and made players proud to play for Norway again, according to Christiansen."Players are often really pointing out that they are so happy to be with the national team again," she said."Grainger has come in and is a bit different in the way she is towards the media. She is always there, at the Euros she always stands up, she always comes to press conferences, she is always available for the media and answers all the questions we have."She gave the captain role to Hegerberg which has been good for Ada to get a bigger role in the team, even if she has struggled a bit with her game and how she plays."[Grainger] has done good things, but I still think people are a bit critical towards her because she hasn't made many changes in the team. People would like to see a more offensive trainer because she seems a bit conservative."
'They are riding a wave'
Norway have avoided a third successive group-stage exit from the Euros and will instead contest their first knockout match at the tournament since their 2013 final defeat by Germany.They are on what is being called the favourable side of the draw along with Italy, England and Sweden, avoiding facing world champions Spain - as well as other strong contenders in France and Germany - until the final."Because of the group stage and the teams they played against, it would have been a big fiasco if they didn't go through," Christiansen added. "That was the minimum they had to do. I think people would see the development of the team and be happy if they go to the semi-final."To do that they must overcome Italy, who have impressed in Switzerland and will contest their first Euros quarter-final since 2013.The sides met twice in 2024, with both Euro 2025 qualifiers ending in draws."Norway know it's going to be tough but they are quite positive now," Christiansen said. "They know they have drawn against them twice last year and know the strengths between the two teams are quite similar. They think they have a good chance to go through."I feel they are riding a wave, they have momentum and avoided Spain in the quarter-finals. Instead they got Italy which in a way it almost seems they have some sort of higher powers with them. "It feels Norway have the luck with them and I hope it stays there."