Norway’s star striker Ada Hegerberg will miss her team’s crucial FIFA Women’s World Cup group game against the Philippines due to an injury. Coach Hege Riise confirmed that Hegerberg failed to recover from a groin injury in time for the match. In the previous game, Hegerberg had to withdraw before kickoff after tweaking her groin during warm-ups, and Norway ended up drawing 0-0 with Switzerland.
With just one point in Group A, Norway is currently at the bottom and must secure a victory to have any chance of qualifying for the last 16. However, their fate also depends on the result of the match between the top two teams, Switzerland (four points) and New Zealand (three points), who will face each other.
Riise stated that Hegerberg was not fit for the game as it came too soon after her injury, but the team is hoping to have her back for the next match. Hegerberg expressed her faith in the team for the upcoming game and her commitment to be ready if Norway makes it to the last 16.
The Norwegian team’s World Cup journey has been eventful, with winger Caroline Graham Hansen apologizing for an outburst directed at the coach after being benched for the draw against Switzerland. Hansen had previously mentioned being removed from the leadership group by Riise last year, but when asked about Hansen’s self-imposed break from the national team in August, Riise refrained from commenting further, citing Hansen’s own public statement about needing rest at the time.
