Norway suffered a shock exit from Euro 2022 as the pre-tournament title contenders crashed to a 1-0 defeat against Austria on Friday.
Despite the presence of Lyon star Ada Hegerberg in their line-up, the former European champions paid the price for another lackluster display in Brighton.
Norway failed to advance from Group A after a second successive loss, while Austria progressed to the quarterfinals as the runner-up behind England.
England, already assured of topping the group, crushed Northern Ireland 5-0 in its last game to move into the final eight with three successive wins and without conceding a single goal.
Needing a victory to move above Austria in its final group match, Norway was pushed towards elimination after 37 minutes when Nicole Billa headed in Verena Hanshaw‘s cross.
The Norwegians were unable to muster a comeback and it was Austria that could have won by a bigger margin with more clinical finishing.
Norway goalkeeper Guro Pettersen made several fine saves to give her side a chance, but Austria’s Manuela Zinsberger thwarted Celin Bizet and Hegerberg in the closing stages.
Thrashed 8-0 by England in its previous game, Norway saw its tournament quickly turn sour after the initial optimism fueled by a 4-1 victory over Northern Ireland in their first group match.
“We had higher belief in ourselves than to be out of the tournament this soon. So of course, I feel totally empty,” Norway coach Martin Sjogren said.
Former Women’s Ballon d’Or winner Hegerberg added: “Everyone has a responsibility in this, myself included. There has to be a brutal honesty in evaluating everything that’s happened in the last few weeks in order to actually bounce back from this. It’s almost that I want to apologize because of all the support we’ve got.”
As Norway head home, Austria can looking forward to playing eight-time European champion Germany in the quarte-finals at Brentford on Thursday.
For UNC star Alessia Russo struck twice as England maintained its flawless run against hapless Northern Ireland in Southampton. England was without boss Sarina Wiegman after she tested positive for the coronavirus on Friday.
But Wiegman’s absence couldn’t halt in-form England’s momentum as Fran Kirby‘s curler put the hosts ahead in the 40th minute. Beth Mead doubled England’s advantage with her fourth goal of the tournament just before halftime.
Russo, having replaced Ellen White at halftime, found the net twice in quick succession soon after the restart. England’s fifth goal came when Northern Ireland’s Kelsie Burrows sliced the ball over goalkeeper Jacqueline Burns into her own net.
England assistant coach Arjan Veurink admitted Wiegman was not certain to return in time for the last eight.
“We have to see. We have to manage it day by day, hopefully she is back in business as soon as possible,” Veurink said. “We plan for scenarios and the world we are living in it could happen. We spoke about it and we’re well prepared. She’s managing the staff and players brilliantly.”
England will face the runnersup from Group B, either Spain or Denmark, in the quarterfinals.
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© Agence France-Presse