
Path Opens Up For Norway To Progress At UEFA Women's Euro
Former European champions Norway go into tonight's final group game against Iceland at the UEFA Women's Euro with the pressure off as they eye a path into the knockout stages.
With two wins from their opening two matches, the Norwegians are guaranteed to win Group A ahead of Switzerland, Finland and the already-eliminated Iceland. Knowing they will play their quarter-final next Wednesday in Geneva, they are likely to avoid world champions Spain, who will win Group B barring an unlikely defeat to Italy tomorrow.
This means Norway will take on either Italy or Portugal for a place in tbe last four. Should they reach the semi-finals, it will be the Scandianavians best performance at a major tournament in twelve years, since they reached the final of the UEFA Women's Euro in 2013.
Then, Ada Hegerberg was 18 years of age, the young star of the team. Today the first-ever woman to win the Ballon D'Or turns 30, having never fulfilled her potential at a major international tournament. Eliminated in the group stage of the two subsequent editions of the UEFA Women's Euro in 2017 and 2022, Hegeberg was part of the team that suffered a humiliating 8-0 trouncing by England three years ago. Norway also suffered defeat in the first knockout rounds of the 2015 and 2023 FIFA Women's World Cups.
KALMAR, SWEDEN - JULY 22: Ada Hegerberg (#21) of Norway celebrates after she scores her team's 3rd ... More goal during the UEFA Women's Euro 2013 quarter final match between Norway and Spain at Kalmar Arena on July 22, 2013 in Kalmar, Sweden. (Photo by)
Indeed, the all-time record goalscorer in the UEFA Women's Champions League, had failed to find the net for her country at a major tournament since 2015. That was until Hegerberg bravely headed Norway level during their opening game against hosts Switzerland. It was her 50th goal for the national team.
More importantly, Hegerberg's goal turned her country's fortunes around as they almost immediately took the lead after an indifferent first half performance in Basel. They followed up that victory with another 2-1 win over Finland to secure their quarter-final place with a game to spare.
Norway's forward #14 Ada Hegerberg (Top) score a goal during the UEFA Women's Euro 2025 Group A ... More football match between Switzerland and Norway at the St Jakob-Park Stadium in Basel on July 2, 2025. (Photo by SEBASTIEN BOZON / AFP) (Photo by SEBASTIEN BOZON/AFP via Getty Images)
Norway's form, however, has been far from impressive in what has been a kind group stage for them. Hegerberg missed a penalty in the win over Switzerland and the team have scrapped through both games thanks to the goals and assists of FC Barcelona's Caroline Graham Hansen which have elicited two own goals.
With nothing at stake during their final group match against Iceland tonight, head coach Gemma Grainger has hinted she may rotate the team tonight to save the legs of some of her leading players. That may include Hegerberg, who could be rested on her birthday.
The Manchester United trio of Lisa Naalsund, Celin Bizet and Elisabeth Terland could all potentially come in, as well as young SK Brann starlet Signe Gaupset. Terland in particular can count herself unfortunate not to have played more than 15 minutes after a season in which she scored ten times for Manchester United and provided five assists.
Ahead of the game, Grainger said yesterday 'we have a really strong squad. The first day we met, we talked about the importance of every player in the team. We have, a highly-competitive group. We'll take a look at what we think is best for the team tomorrow. We won't make any indication of what that will be just at the moment but, of course, it's about what is best for the next game. We plan to utilise all of the squad. Whether that will be tomorrow, you'll have to wait and see.'
Before the tournament, Hegergerg said that a place in the quarter-finals would be her ideal birthday present. Between 2017 and 2022, Hegerberg withdrew herself from selection for the national team citing a lack of commitment from the Norwegian federation in the women's team, a situation which she said left her 'broken mentally.'
Now as the new captain of the national side, succeeding Maren Mjelde, she understands how important it is to make every member of tbe squad feel valued. 'I think it's important in a group to create as much trust as possible between the players, between the staff, in order to have a healthy environment where people feel they can be themselves, 100%.'
'I mean, sports are a tough thing, you demand a lot from yourself, you demand a lot from the environment, and there's going to tough situations. The more trust you have among your team-mates, among your staff, from your coach, the easier it is to stand tall in the tough moments as well. To feel like you're a collective, to fell that you're a team.'
'That's something that I bear in mind all the time when I'm in this group, is that everyone is feeling that they're seen. I think to be able to be seen, is something incredible. That every individual knows they're role, knows how they can contribute."
'We talk a lot about the eleven playing and maybe those who come in and out but you have a group of 23 players who all play their role in something that's going to be, hopefully, a long tournament and you're going to count on everyone. So having trust, having a safe ground where people feel they can contribute is something essential to me.'
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
15 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Liverpool hint at Hugo Ekitike's future Liverpool number
Hugo Ekitike is here, and he's perfect. He's Liverpool's seventh new arrival in the window, counting in Giorgi Mamardashvili, who technically agreed to join the Reds last summer but only completed his move this year. LFC Kits Shop Now LFC x New Era Shop Now LFC Signed Merch Shop Now LFC x Titleist Shop Now Alongside him, there's also Florian Wirtz, Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong, Armin Pecsi and Freddie Woodman. The Reds are not done yet. However, much of their activity will be determined by outgoings before they look to bring in more reinforcements. Who those reinforcements may be remains to be seen. Alexander Isak is still on the club's radar, meanwhile, a centre-back is also needed before the window shuts close. For now though, Liverpool will be just delighted they solved a major headache in the no.9 position, where Arne Slot has always wanted to reinforce his options. In Ekitike, Liverpool have gotten a really exciting forward, too. Someone who the club will believe can go very far in the game. His potential is limitless and he is a really good fit for the way Slot wants to play football. Ekitike is dynamic and he thrives inside the box but he's multifaceted in the sense that he can also create chances for his teammates, run into the channels and take players on one vs one. Undoubtedly when there's a new signing one of the most exciting aspects about their arrival is finding out what number they are going to wear. For Ekitike, just like every other new Liverpool signing this summer, there's going to be a wait.
Yahoo
15 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Skechers Confirms OG Anunoby Joins Its Roster
New York Knicks Forward Competing in Skechers Basketball Shoes LOS ANGELES, July 24, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Confirming the fan speculation surrounding his headline-grabbing slam dunk in SKX REIGN™ shoes during the 2025 NBA playoffs in May, Skechers officially announces that New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby has joined Team Skechers. In addition to competing in Skechers Basketball footwear, the NBA Champion and defensive powerhouse will appear in the brand's global marketing campaigns. The news drops ahead of Anunoby representing the brand on a European basketball tour with fellow Skechers athlete Terance Mann of the Brooklyn Nets. The tour kicks off July 26 in Belgrade, with additional stops to follow in Berlin, Frankfurt and Zadar. "Skechers has helped me continue to play basketball at an elite level and I love these shoes," said OG Anunoby, who wears a range of Skechers Basketball styles including the SKX NEXUS™ and SKX REIGN™. "I play quick and low to the court. I jump and move a lot. Skechers has the shoe to keep me comfortable, keep me protected and keep me playing my best every day." "As we grow and continue to innovate our Skechers Basketball shoes, more elite players want to join our team and bring the Comfort That Performs to their games," said David Weinberg, chief operating officer of Skechers. "Known for his viral dunks and defensive strength on the court, OG is a fantastic and inspiring addition to our global roster. We look forward to bringing OG and Terance Mann on tour to meet fans and the media at events with our European retail partners in the coming week." Born in London, UK, Ogugua "OG" Anunoby grew up in Missouri from age four and excelled as a basketball phenom in high school. He was selected as a pre-season All-American by The Sporting News ahead of his freshman year at Indiana University. In 2017, he declared for the NBA draft, where he was selected 23rd overall by the Toronto Raptors. In 2019, the Raptors won the NBA championship, making Anunoby the first British-born basketball player to ever earn the title. He was traded to the New York Knicks in 2024 and has had great success since with a career-high 18-point-per-game average last season, including reaching his career-high 40-point game versus Denver. The two high-performance Skechers Basketball shoes worn by Anunoby reflect his dynamic playing style—strong, versatile, and always in control. The SKX NEXUS™ is a low-top court shoe designed for speed, stability and support, offering exceptional comfort and responsiveness. Meanwhile, the SKX REIGN™ focuses on promoting elevation and intense traction, helping Anunoby stay quick and locked in on both ends of the court. Anunoby joins a Skechers roster that includes his Raptors championship teammate Norman Powell, European tour partner Terance Mann, as well as NBA players Julius Randle, Joel Embiid, Jabari Walker, and Josh Green, along with WNBA athletes Rickea Jackson, Jackie Young and Kiki Iriafen. Beyond basketball, Skechers also offers performance footwear for elite and casual athletes in running, soccer, golf, pickleball/padel and cricket. Skechers Basketball footwear is available at and select Skechers retail stores. Basketball fans can get behind-the-scenes access to Skechers Basketball product launches and more by following @skechersbasketball on Instagram and TikTok. About SKECHERS U.S.A., Inc. Skechers (NYSE:SKX), The Comfort Technology Company® based in Southern California, designs, develops and markets a diverse range of lifestyle and performance footwear, apparel and accessories for men, women and children. The Company's collections are available in 180 countries and territories through department and specialty stores, and direct to consumers through and more than 5,300 Skechers retail stores. A Fortune 500® company, Skechers manages its international business through a network of wholly-owned subsidiaries, joint venture partners, and distributors. For more information, please visit and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. This announcement contains forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, Skechers' future domestic and international growth, financial results and operations including expected net sales and earnings, its development of new products, future demand for its products, its planned domestic and international expansion, opening of new stores and additional expenditures, and advertising and marketing initiatives. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking language such as "believe," "anticipate," "expect," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "project," "will," "could," "may," "might," or any variations of such words with similar meanings. Any such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause or contribute to such differences include the disruption of business and operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic; delays or disruptions in our supply chain; international economic, political and market conditions including the effects of inflation, tariffs and foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations around the world, the challenging consumer retail markets in the United States, and the impact of wars, acts of war and other conflicts around the world; sustaining, managing and forecasting costs and proper inventory levels; losing any significant customers; decreased demand by industry retailers and cancellation of order commitments due to the lack of popularity of particular designs and/or categories of products; maintaining brand image and intense competition among sellers of footwear for consumers, especially in the highly competitive performance footwear market; anticipating, identifying, interpreting or forecasting changes in fashion trends, consumer demand for the products and the various market factors described above; sales levels during the spring, back-to-school and holiday selling seasons; and other factors referenced or incorporated by reference in Skechers' annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 and its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q in 2025. Taking these and other risk factors associated with the COVID-19 pandemic into consideration, the dynamic nature of these circumstances means that what is stated in this press release could change at any time, and as a result, actual results could differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements. The risks included here are not exhaustive. Skechers operates in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risks emerge from time to time and we cannot predict all such risk factors, nor can we assess the impact of all such risk factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Given these risks and uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results. Moreover, reported results should not be considered an indication of future performance. View source version on Contacts Media Contacts: Jennifer ClaySKECHERS U.S.A., Marvin HeinzSKECHERS U.S.A. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
15 minutes ago
- Yahoo
From hospital bed to Euro hero -- Bonmati back to her decisive best for Spain
"You could write a book about this," said Aitana Bonmati on Wednesday as she reflected on the last few weeks in her life after scoring the goal which took Spain into the final of the Women's Euro 2025. At the end of June the world's leading women's footballer was lying in hospital with viral meningitis and it looked like she might not be able to play for Spain at the tournament in Switzerland. Now she is preparing to lead her team into Sunday's final against England in Basel, in a rematch of the 2023 World Cup decider which Spain won, after converting the only goal of the last-four clash with Germany late in extra time. "When the ball went in I started running around like a crazy person. I didn't know where to go," a smiling Bonmati said as she spoke to media at the Letzigrund Stadium in Zurich after collecting the trophy for player of the match. "It is so special to score in games like these and if I can help the team to keep making history that is very special indeed." Barcelona midfielder Bonmati, who has won the Ballon d'Or in each of the last two years, was taken into hospital at the end of June after reporting feeling unwell. Tests confirmed that she was suffering from a bout of viral meningitis and Bonmati could only watch from bed as her teammates beat Japan in a friendly. Viral meningitis is less serious than the rarer bacterial variant, which can lead to death within 24 hours, but it still seemed like a long shot for her to recover in time for the Euros. - Growing rivalry - Yet she did recover, and appeared as a late substitute in Spain's opening game at the tournament, a 5-0 win over Portugal in Bern on July 3. The 27-year-old was back in the starting line-up for their final group match, a 3-1 victory over Italy, and retained her place for the quarter-final against the host nation before scoring the winner against Germany. "I don't believe in destiny, just in hard work and in my own mentality. I can only thank everyone who has supported me because it has not been easy," Bonmati admitted. "She didn't have an easy start to the Euros but she has managed to overcome her health problems and has worked hard to get fit again," remarked coach Montse Tome. Spain are now into their first ever senior women's European Championship final, two years after winning the World Cup for the first time. Bonmati was one of the stars of that superb team which defeated England in Sydney, and is now dreaming of another title. La Roja are the favourites, even if England are the defending continental champions, for the latest instalment in a growing rivalry between the nations. As well as the 2023 Women's World Cup final, Spain beat England in the final of the men's Euros last year in Berlin. In late May an Arsenal side featuring several members of Sarina Wiegman's current England squad defeated Barcelona in the final of the Women's Champions League. Seven of the players who started for Barcelona that day in Lisbon also started against Germany on Wednesday, among them goalkeeper Cata Coll who made several vital saves before Bonmati got the winner. "Cata played really well, with some big saves when we were suffering," Bonmati said of Coll, who missed all of Spain's three group games due to tonsilitis. "Neither of us had the start we wanted at this Euros due to illness but we are lucky to be here today. "It shows what can happen in life. In the end we have had good news." as-pm/mw