Guro Reiten had the two biggest chances of the game when, one minute into the first half, he shot first inside the post and then under the crossbar.

The French pushed towards the end but the Norwegians fought back.

A Norwegian team who in recent years have leaked goals against good teams, and who in last year’s European Championship play-off had to defend 0-8 against England, are also very good defensively and handled France’s pressure very well. A Maren Mjelde without much playing time in the club team managed the five defenses that kept the home team at bay.

Norway struggled to a 1-0 win over Uruguay in the opening match of the tournament. The reserves team Norway lost 0-2 to Denmark in their next game, but finished on top form when the first pick returned from the start.

Norway started fresh at a nearly packed Stade Raymond Kopa. After two minutes, Karina Sævik was sent on all fours on the counter. He found Reiten in the middle, but his shot was blocked.

France replied with a long-range shot from Kenza Dali which Aurora Mikalsen had to return. He sacrificed himself in a duel with Delphine Cascarino, who shot wide.

[ Fotballkvinnene innledet VM-året med knepen seier ]

Impressed

In the 5-4-1 formation that Hege Riise will deploy against a strong side, Norway defended well against an attacking home team and didn’t allow Les Bleues to have many chances. Kadidiatou Diani was brought on after the half hour, but Guro Bergsvand ran and blocked a shot for a corner.

Mikalsen was good when he fired a long shot from Sandy Baltimore to cross for a corner, while in the 42nd minute he gave France a free chance with a poor first touch on a Tuva Hansen rebound. He duels with Diani, but wins her.

Then Reiten showed his left foot twice, one minute apart. First she shot from 20 meters at the post behind goalkeeper Pauline Peyraud-Magnin, then she won the ball from the opponent and fired from 25 meters towards the farthest cross. The goalkeeper did not reach, but the ball hit the crossbar and fell.

[ Riise tror og håper Graham Hansen og Hegerberg er med i april ]

VIF striker decided

Denmark trailed 1-2 against Uruguay in the 89th minute, but then Rikke Sevecke converted a corner, and seconds later Vålerenga’s Janni Thomsen thundered in the net for a 3-2 win.

France won the tournament ahead of Denmark and Norway but Riise and his team can go home with little confidence ahead of the World Cup.

Group rivals Norway at the World Cup did not impress during February’s fixtures. New Zealand have been beaten in their two home matches, while the Philippines lost all of their matches in the Pinatar Cup and ended with a 0-5 loss to Iceland on Tuesday. Switzerland came close to saving 1-1 against Poland in Marbella.

[ Norge møter Sverige i oppvarmingskamp før VM ]

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Match facts:

Tournoi de France, Tuesday’s women’s national team soccer tournament, in Angers:

France – Norway 0-0

Stade Raymond Kopa, 11,445 spectators

Judge: Ivana Projkovka, North Macedonia.

No cards.

Norway (5-4-1): Aurora Mikalsen – Tuva Hansen, Guro Bergsvand, Maren Mjelde (Vilde Bøe Risa from 77), Mathilde Harviken, Marit Bratberg Lund (Maria Thorisdottir from 66) – Amalie Eikeland, Frida Maanum, Guro Reiten, Julie Blakstad (Anna Jøsendal from 90 .) – Karina Sævik (Emilie Nautnes from 77).

Unused subs: Guro Pettersen – Emilie Joramo, Thea Bjelde, Celin Bizet Ildhusøy, Thea Sørbo, Malin Brenn, Sara Hørte, Emma Stølen Godø.

France (3-4-3): Pauline Peyraud-Magnin – Maëlle Lakrak, Wendie Renard, Estelle Cascarino – Ève Périsset (Lindsey Thomas from 56.), Sandie Toletti (Naomie Feller from 56.), Charlotte Bilbault (Grace Geyoro from 81.), Sandy Baltimore (Julie Thibaud from 40.) – Delphine Cascarino (Ouleymata Sarr from 81.), Kadidiatou Diani, Kenza Dali.

Norway beat Uruguay 1-0 on Wednesday and lost 0-2 to Denmark on Saturday.

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