Spain lost most of its Barcelona players after 15 of the country’s top women players dropped out of the national team as a result of conflicts with the Football Association, but former Barcelona star Jenni Hermoso (32) and this season’s rising star Salma Paralluelo (19) ) scored two goals each against a Norwegian side that threw old defensive errors.

Norway have made great strides in defense under Hege Riise in the past year, and closed well against some of the world’s best national sides, but on Thursday the team let chances and goals slip due to poor personal errors and poor collective defensive play.

Ada Hegerberg scored in the national team’s long-awaited comeback seven months after her long-term injury in Riise’s debut match as national team manager, but it was just a ray of light on a disappointing night for the Norwegian side, who also have to wait for Caroline’s return. Graham Hansen because of an acquaintance in the knee.

Problem

Norway had problems from the start against a Spanish team that pressed hard and were aggressive. Losing the Norwegian ball in their own half led to some dangerous situations, and after just over a quarter of an hour, the first late goal came.

Right-back Sheila García recovered the ball from Emilie Haavi just outside the Norwegian penalty area, played in the wall with Jenni Hermoso and beat Maren Mjelde. Then he played for Hermoso, who was able to score goals in an empty net.

It was a well-deserved lead, but Norway fought back and scored at their first opportunity. In the 20th minute, Guro Reiten won a ball from Irene Guerrero a few yards into the Spanish half. He raced to the left and at the right to play for Hegerberg, who went one step ahead of centre-back Ivana Andrés and scored his 43rd national team goal. He did so in his 75th international, 216 days after he was injured in an away game against Belgium where Norway earned a WC ticket.

The joy of leveling lasted only a minute and a half before Spain took the lead again. In that situation, the Norwegian defense lost. Paralluelo came down the left and turned to Eva Navarro on the opposite flank. He hit straight down the middle again, and there Hermoso scored from close range.

New error

Hegerberg would play only one half and was replaced by Elisabeth Terland in the first half. Any hopes of giving Spain a fight for victory were quickly dashed when Paralluelo scored twice two minutes later, both after errors from Norway.

First, Mathilde Harviken and Tuva Hansen dueled each other in the Spanish match. The ball passed to Paralluelo, who ran from Harviken and scored a goal alone with the keeper.

Two minutes later, Aurora Mikalsen made a mistake in the penalty box due to Olga Carmona’s cross. Navarro nodded to Paralluelo, who scored easily. With the score 4-1, the game was decided.

Substitute Cesilie Andreassen scored a consolation goal through Amalie Eikeland’s cross in the 86th minute.

Spain will likely face Norway in the last 16 of the World Cup if both teams do as expected and advance from their groups. If Norway is to have any chance of advancing further, the team will have to clearly improve from what we saw on Thursday.

On Tuesday, Sweden awaits in Gothenburg, and there is likely to be a formidable opponent.