SOUTHAMPTON (Dagbladet): Ada Hegerberg and Norway got off to the best start in the EC play-offs in England.

The team will beat Northern Ireland at any time. But the way it happened – with energy, great combinations and a 4-1 win – gave cause for optimism for the rest of the championship.

– There were a lot of good periods where we had some good combinations. We created a lot of good things and deserved to win. It’s good we got into the rhythm by scoring goals. “It’s important for confidence and for the team,” Hegerberg told Dagbladet.

– Then there are some situations that we have to improve so we can be on par with England. I think everyone agrees with that. “It will be a completely different game, on a completely different level,” he said of the match against the host nation on Monday.

Dagbladet met Hegerberg in the interview zone at St. Mary at Southampton after last night’s game. In one hand he carried something unusual on such an occasion:

– What do you have in your hand?

– It’s a couple. I got it from a woman who flew all the way from Argentina. It was huge, he said of the surprise.

According to Wikipedia, mate is a caffeinated drink made from the yerba mate plant. This drink is very popular in Paraguay, Uruguay, Chile, Argentina and Brazil. Now also in the Norwegian EC camp!

More than 9,000 spectators have found their way into Southampton’s main hall. With the win, Norway leads in Group A ahead of England.

Hegerberg’s irritation was mainly about the fact that Norway did not ensure a better goal difference. It could ultimately be decisive to advance to the quarter-finals. He was involved in the Norwegian goal, but was unable to position himself.

– We agreed at half-time that if we had the chance to score more goals we had to do it, said Hegerberg.

– After all, we have to stay close behind and not make unnecessary turnovers. We missed it a bit in the second half.

The late goal came from a corner four minutes after the break. It seems unnecessary.

– Maybe I should have been a little harder on the pitch in the first duel, goalkeeper Guro Pettersen told Dagbladet.

– After Maria (Thorisdottir) won the head-to-head duel, we might be able to finish it. We also lost signs when the ball came into the field again. I’m very close to saving, but have to save super saves for more important events.

Norway have three days before taking on England in Brighton.

Critical

– Now we will recover, eat well and sleep, Caroline Graham Hansen told Dagbladet.

– We will run tactical training. But I don’t think I should publish to the Norwegian media what we’re going to do. An Englishman can take it, he said with a smile.

Austria is the fourth team in the group.