Germany

v

Norway

 

 

 

UEFA Women's European Championship
The Final
Blackburn Rovers, Ewood Park
3.15pm, 19 June 2005

Norway can upset the odds and beat five-time champions Germany in Sunday’s UEFA European Women’s Championship final, says Coach Bjarne Berntsen after seeing his team win a thrilling semi-final against Sweden at Warrington.

An extra time strike by player of the match Solveig Gulbrandsen, who had also scored Norway’s first goal and set up the second for striker Isabell Herlovsen, clinched a famous 3-2 victory that put the Norwegians into their first major final for five years.

"I am very pleased and satisfied with both the performance and the result," said Berntsen. "The only thing I regret is that it was too tough a game and we only have two days of rest to prepare to play the best team in the world.

"Against Germany we will have to look closely at the players to see if they are fit enough to play. The Germans are very fit, although we can take heart from the fact that we played our best game of the tournament against them in the group stages.

"It will be very difficult to repeat that, although we will not use tiredness as an excuse. You have to accept that Germany are the big favourites, but I really believe we can win this tournament."

Norway lost 1-0 to Germany in their opening group game of the eight-nation event, but Berntsen’s team were a shade unlucky after holding the territorial advantage for long spells of a closely fought contest.

They then drew 1-1 with France before beating Italy 5-3 to finish as Group A runners-up, and after now winning the best match of the tournament the Norwegians are being tipped for final joy by Sweden Coach Marika Domanski-Lyfors as well as Berntsen.

As she is about to step down from her role it was a bitterly disappointing end to her international coaching career for Domanski-Lyfors, but she was as gracious about the Norway team as she was proud of her own players.

"I am deeply upset," she said, "but I thought we played a fantastic game and showed we have a tremendous team. I think the team can learn a lot from this experience and hopefully under the next coach they will go one better and win the final.

"As this was my last game it was a very emotional occasion for me, but I wish Norway the best of luck in the final and I think they can win on Sunday after this. They have a wonderful team who play great football and were the better team.

"I have some great memories of my time as coach and, although I am very sad right now, I told the players I am proud of them and I have been proud of being the Sweden coach. I think this team will go on and win this tournament one day - I am so proud of them."