England faces tough Norway team
Sampson leads team against Norway in a Group of 16 knockout game
Having seen them play two group stage games at Lansdowne Stadium, area soccer fans are familiar with the work of Even Pellerud and his team from Norway during the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
They may not be as familiar, however, with Team England and its coach, Mark Sampson, but that will change Monday when Sampson and Pellerud lead their charges against one another in a Group of 16 knockout game.
For their part, Sampson and his team are very familiar with Pellerud and Norway.
“In terms of preparing for this game, we’re fully aware of what Norway are going to bring and we’re certainly very clear that they’re one of the top sides in this tournament,” Sampson said.
“They’re a team with fantastic experience on the sideline and on the field. When it comes to European Championships and World Cups, they normally come up with big performances.”
When it was brought to his attention that he was the youngest coach to guide his team into the Group of 16, the 32-year-old responded with, “That’s a pretty cool stat. I didn’t know that.”
Then when told 61-year-old Pellerud, who was the coach of the Canadian national team from 1999-2008, was the oldest coach in the Group of 16, Sampson said that was a face he had already known.
“First and foremost, I have the huge respect for the work Evan has done with this Norwegian team. He’s a real pioneer in the women’s game, and has not only had success with the Norway team but with other nations as well, and that’s something you certainly have to respect.
“But (the game) will come down to the players and they’re performance, and how much we can support them. I’m looking forward to the challenge. I’ve got respect, and I’m sure my players have got respect, for the opponent but we’re excited by the game plan we’ve got, and the players are really confident to get the result we need.”
England is the sixth-ranked nation in women’s soccer while the Norwegians are No. 11, but both coaches were quick to point out that there are no underdogs when you get to this stage of a tournament with this prestige.
Both coaches also know that there can be no passengers.
“They are a hard-working team, they are good at possessing the ball and they are a good passing team,” Pellerud said.
“If we are not real organized, they are good enough to punish us.”
Norway hasn’t played since it defeated Côte d’Ivoire 3-1 last Monday in its final group stage game. Needless to say the players are ready to get back into a game situation.
“It’s been one week since our last match and it’s a lot of time to wait for a big game like this.
“We are very ready now and we feel good,” defender Trine Ronning said.
“It’s time to play,” Pellerud said. “For several days now, we have been through a mix of free time, relaxing time and, of course, serious business. The last four days have been dominated by intense practices.”
Sampson has been preparing his group for this moment for a long time.
“We set out a long time ago with the objective of being the most prepared team in this tournament, and we’ve tried to give the players the best possible chance in any given scenario,” he said.
“We’ve got a very clear plan as to how we want to approach this game to have the best chance to beat a very good Norwegian team. It will be a big challenge for us.”
The winner will move on to a quarter-final match on Saturday at B.C. Place.