Mjelde hails Hegerberg as Norway seek to advance at Womens Euro

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FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - UEFA Womens Euro 2025 - Group A - Switzerland v Norway - St. Jakob-Park, Basel, Switzerland - July 2, 2025 Norways Ada Hegerberg celebrates scoring their first goal with Maren Mjelde REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File Photo

Norway defender Maren Mjelde had no issue handing over the captains armband to Ada Hegerberg ahead of the Womens Euros, and the striker responded by scoring a vital equaliser in their sides 2-1 Group A win over hosts Switzerland that puts them firmly in control of their own destiny.

The Norwegians take on second-placed Finland in Sion on Sunday knowing that a win for either team will see them safely through to the knockout stage, and Mjelde is hoping that Hegerberg can perform more of her heroics against the Finns.

Shes brilliant. I was so happy for her to open the tournament with a goal, its good for the strikers to get the goals. Really pleased for her, pleased for the team, because we needed that win, Mjelde told Reuters.

After a rudderless first half that saw the Swiss dominate and take the lead, the 35-year-old Mjelde said her teammates had to pull themselves together at the break.

We all knew that it wasnt good enough, but if they could do it in 45 minutes, we could turn it around in 45 minutes. And I think thats what we agreed on going out there, we promised each other that we