After this long break and injuries that kept her off the pitch in 2020 and 2021, the Norwegian "serial scorer" is now thirsty for football.

"She has performed very well since her return", although she is not yet "100% back", explains Norwegian international Elise Thorsnes in an interview with AFP.

"But I can't wait to see her (play, editor's note) against better teams", adds the striker not selected for the Euro, but who will comment on the competition for national television NRK.

After the Northern Irish, the Norwegians and their captain Maren Mjelde will meet England, host country, then Austria in a strong group A.

Big comeback

After almost five years of absence in the national team, Ada Hegerberg, the first player in history to win the Women's Golden Ball, had formalized her big return to the selection three months before the launch of the Euro.

Ada Hegerberg raises her Golden Ball trophy on December 3, 2018 in Paris FRANCK FIFE AFP / Archives

The 26-year-old striker shunned the Norwegian football federation after the failure of Euro-2017 (elimination of the national team in last place in their group).

Hegerberg had notably criticized his federation concerning the inequalities between men and women in the bonuses paid.

The player finds her place in the team of one of the reference nations of world women's football, but displays cautious ambitions.

"We just know that when we get to England we have to be ready," Ada Hegerberg told AFP a week before the start of the Euro kick-off.

"After that, it's all up to us, really."

"We know that we have quality players", judge Hegerberg, for whom everyone must "go to each match wanting to win".

At the 2019 World Cup in France, the Norwegians had failed in the quarterfinals, a disappointing performance for a team with a long record - 1 World Cup victory (1995), 2 victories (1987 and 1993) and 4 finals (1989, 1991 , 2005 and 2013) to the Euro.

The return of the first female Golden Ball arouses the admiration of her teammates.

"Mental"

"There is one word for her: the mind. After two years without playing football, I would have given up I think. She always has a positive mind," said her team-mate in Lyon, the Frenchwoman Selma Bacha, at l AFP during a preparatory course in mid-June.

Ada Hegerberg, April 7, 2022, during the 2023 World Cup qualifying match between Norway and Kosovo at Sandefjord Stian Lysberg Solum NTB / AFP / Archives

"She has a connection on and off the pitch. That she came back with her national team and is taking part in the Euros, frankly it's beautiful with everything she's been through."

At Olympique Lyonnais, where the striker has been playing since 2014, two serious injuries (rupture of the right knee ligament then stress fracture of the left tibia) deprived her of competition for 20 months in 2020 and 2021.

"I think she came back with a lot of energy (...) she's a leader and she wants to win every game," said Elise Thorsnes.

Ada Hegerberg celebrates Lyon's victory in the Champions League final, in Turin on May 21, 2022 Marco BERTORELLO AFP / Archives

"We have learned a lot since 2017 (...) we are much better prepared," she says.

"I think we know better what we want now."

Norway will also be able to count on a selection made up of young new recruits to shine the motto of the team, "sterkere semmen" ("stronger together").

For this Euro, coach Martin Sjögren has bet on a team made up of promising new faces, supervised by players who have already experienced major tournaments.

"I don't think young players are nervous, they just want to take the risk to play at the best level, I think a lot of young people are ready for that," said Elise Thorsnes.

© 2022 AFP