They may have had difficulties in recent years but shouldn’t be counted out. In the two games coming up this week - tomorrow in Oslo at 18:00 CEST (live on Rai 2) and on Tuesday in Ferrara (18:15 CEST live on Rai 2) - Italy will face a side reestablishing themselves thanks to the work from Gemma Grainger and her players. The new path under the English coach has calmed the uncertainties from the Hege Riise era, a legend of Norwegian football - she holds the record number of appearances for the international team (188) - though there have also been letdowns in her two years in charge of the Gresshoppene (Grasshoppers).

Norway are the only European side, alongside Germany, to have won at least one European Championship, World Cup, and Olympics (gold in 2000). From then on, the Scandinavians have won an Algarve Cup and picked up a number of disappointing results like at the 2023 World Cup, when they lost to Japan in the round of 16, and in the Nations League, when they finished third in their group behind France and Austria (1W, 1D, 3L). But the history remains and the talent, both young and old, and the side is ready for a return to glory. The journey to EURO 2025 began with a 4-0 win over Finland, followed by a narrow defeat away to the Netherlands.

The stars of the squad are undoubtedly Caroline Hansen (46 goals) and Ada Hegerberg (47), forwards at Barcelona and Lyon respectively, sides that faced off in the Champions League final just a few days ago. Other talents play in the Premier League: ex-Roma player Sofia Haug is now at Liverpool, Vilde Boe Risa and Lisa Naalsund at Manchester United, Frida Maanum at Arsenal, Maria Thorisdottir and Guro Bergsvandt at Brighton, Guro Reiten and Maren Mjede (176 caps for Norway) at Chelsea and Celin Ildhusøy - who scored in their last game against Italy in 2022 - plays for Tottenham. With the range of top players available to her, Grainger has not called up the “Italian” Emelie Haavi despite her great season with the Champions of Italy, Roma. Inter player Anja Sonstevold also won’t be involved in the next two matches.

HEAD-TO-HEAD. Our record against Norway is not stellar: 2 wins and 2 draws in 17 games, leaving us with 13 defeats. The Azzurre have only won once in Norway, in Lillestroem at Euro ‘97 when the third group game ended 0-2 thanks to a brace from Caroline Morace. This win saw Italy overtake Norway in the standings and eliminate them from their home tournament (they were hosting alongside Sweden). The Azzurre finished top with a draw against Germany before going all the way to the final, our second and most recent to date. Despite the 1-1 draw in the groupstage, Germany won the crucial game 2-0 to secure their fourth European title.

The only other win came in Faro, Portugal, during the 2022 Algarve Cup, 25 years since the last: on 22 February, after beating Denmark, Milena Bertolini’s side beat Norway 2-1 with goals from Valentina Giacinti and Arianna Caruso.