FIFA Women’s World Cup: Norway ‘devastated’ by shock defeat to New Zealand, says forward Graham Hansen

Norway came into the match as overwhelming favourites against New Zealand, who had failed to win any of its previous 15 World Cup matches.

World champion in 1995, Norway had been looking to impress after its shock early exit from last year’s European Championships. | Photo Credit: REUTERS

Norway forward Caroline Graham Hansen said they “might as well just go home” if they cannot improve on Thursday’s performance at the FIFA Women’s World Cup after the former champion was stunned 1-0 by co-host New Zealand at Auckland’s Eden Park.

Norway came into the match as overwhelming favourite against the Football Ferns, who had failed to win any of their previous 15 World Cup matches, but looked disjointed from the outset and rarely troubled a stout home defence.

“Of course (we are) devastated,” said Hansen. “We didn’t come here to lose.”

World champion in 1995, Norway had been looking to impress after its shock early exit from last year’s European Championships.

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However, it struggled to build any kind of rhythm and only came alive after Hannah Wilkinson put New Zealand ahead in the second half.

“I felt like we weren’t able to play our game at all,” Hansen told reporters. “A lot of things have to be better if we want to win games.”

Norway’s best chance to level came through Tuva Hansen’s right-footed effort in the 81st minute, which ricocheted back off the crossbar.

Hansen said losing the opening match put them on the back foot for the remainder of the group stage.

“With the win we would have more confidence, but now we just have to show what we’re made of,” she added. “If not, we might as well just go home.”

The squad has five days to pull the pieces together before it faces Switzerland in its second group-stage match in Hamilton. It closes out its Group A against the Philippines.