AUCKLAND (Reuters) – Winger Caroline Graham Hansen was back in the lineup for Norway’s critical match against the Philippines in Auckland on Sunday after being dropped to the bench in their previous game.
Graham Hansen lashed out at her coach’s decision to start her on the bench in Tuesday’s affair against Switzerland, where the team were held to a frustrating scoreless draw that left their chances of progressing in jeopardy.
She later apologised for the outburst in a disappointing World Cup campaign that saw the former champions on the wrong side of a stunning upset when co-hosts New Zealand beat them 1-0 in their opener.
Norway, bottom of Group A with one point, need a win on Sunday to have any chance of advancing, though their fate could be left up to the result of a clash between the Swiss (four points) and New Zealand (three points) in Dunedin.
(Reporting by Amy Tennery in Auckland; Editing by William Mallard)
