Norway’s 19 women’s national team beat defending title defender France and are ready for the European Championship finals. It was the first time since 2011, and then big profiles like Guro Reiten, Caroline Graham Hansen and Ada Hegerberg attended.

The latter came out early to congratulate the team with last place on Twitter, and to NRK Hegerberg revealed he had been following the team closely and giving his best advice.

– I myself have been in J19 and the important thing is already giving birth at that age there. We have had some dialogue with them and asked them to realize that it is prestige, but at the same time don’t stress too much about it. But they dropped their shoulders and showed their quality, Hegerberg said.

Successfully followed Hegerberg’s advice

Hegerberg is in England and is making final preparations with the women’s national team before their opening game against Northern Ireland on Thursday. His support for the younger national team means a lot.

– First and foremost it’s really cool that you know they’re following. And he’s one of the best football players in the world, so that’s big, said captain Julie Aune Jorde.

– What advice did Hegerberg give?

– He first and foremost wished us luck, and said that it was this match that was fun. And that’s when we must dare to try and be ourselves. We did well today, so that’s a good suggestion to go further.

Praised by the experts

To fight pre-favorites France, Norway and Hege Riises were chosen to do everything right. Lyn Cathinka Tandberg’s post after 52 minutes ended in goal after a clumsy maneuver by French midfielder loïse Sévenne. The semifinals thus ended 1-0 to Norway.

NRK football expert Carl-Erik Torp was impressed with what the J19 national team showed in the Czech Republic after a rather sluggish start in the first group game against England.

– It’s a bit like you don’t understand it. If we look at the countries that are there and the fact that Norway is developing rapidly, it’s absolutely fantastic. I never thought so, he said and continued:

– There are always individual players coming up, but the foundation here is passion and belief in the group which is very important. The battle plan they devised and the entrance to the last three matches were absolutely flawless.

Think Spain can be beat

On Saturday, a tough final against Spain awaits. Hopefully the final goes much better than in 2011, when Hegerberg and his team-mates lost 1-8 against Germany.

Norway’s last camp, Selma Panengstuen, has great confidence that Norway can become European champions.

– I think it’s very possible. I know that Spain are very good, but they drew against France. So anything is possible. They may be better, but so are France, Germany and England and the rest of the gang. So I think it will be a very good game,” the Kolbotn goalkeeper told NRK.

• You can watch the J19 final between Norway and Spain on NRK 1 at 13.50 on Saturday.