Norways Grainger facing Gaupset selection dilemma ahead of Italy clash

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FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - UEFA Womens Euro 2025 - Group A - Norway v Iceland - Stockhorn Arena, Thun, Switzerland - July 10, 2025 Norways Signe Gaupset scores their first goal REUTERS/Piroschka Van De Wouw/File Photo

Norway forward Signe Gaupsets two goals and two assists in their final group game against Iceland have given coach Gemma Grainger a lot to ponder ahead of their quarter-final clash with Italy at the Womens Euros in Geneva on Wednesday.

With the group already won, the 20-year-old replaced Guro Reiten on the left side of the attack and seized the opportunity, scoring twice and teeing up Frida Maanum for two more goals leading to calls from fans for Gaupset to start.

With Signe, the Iceland performance, that wasnt so much of a surprise to any of us. We see Signe training every day and thats how she is, Grainger told reporters, remaining tight-lipped about her plans.

With the rest of the team, the competitiveness has been really high and for me as a manager thats exactly the position that I want to be in, and its a position that I want the team to be in also.

The Norwegians have appeared to be in high spirits at their training base on the shore of Lake Neuchatel, with the players laughing and joking and signing autographs for fans.

However, captain Ada Hegerberg, who recently spoke to Reuters about her will to inspire at the tournament, said that