Norway star Ada Hegerberg dramatically pulled out of her side’s crucial clash against Switzerland seconds before kick-off after suffering a groin problem.
There were confusing scenes at Hamilton’s Waikato Stadium on Tuesday as the 28-year-old walked off the pitch and back down the tunnel to the dressing room while her team-mates were kicking off.
Hegerberg, one of her country’s most important players, had been selected to lead the line in the starting XI and took a full part in the pre-match warm-up.
She lined up with the rest of the starters for the pre-match picture and sung the national anthem, shaking hands with the Swiss opposition before exiting the pitch at the very last moment.
Initially spectators thought Hegerberg, a former Ballon d’Or Feminin winner, would re-emerge but she was replaced by Sophie Roman Haug seconds before kick-off.
There had been suggestions Hegerberg was suffering from an illness, but Norway have now released a statement confirming that she picked up a groin issue with the very last action of her pre-match warm-up.
The brief statement read: ‘Update from national team doctor Trygve Hunemo: Ada Hegerberg got a feeling in the groin on the last sprint during the warm-up.’
Norway tried to give Hegerberg every opportunity to run off the injury but she was forced to withdraw from the starting XI and is now a doubt for the side’s final group game against the Philippines on Sunday.
The minnows actually pulled off the shock of the tournament so far in Tuesday’s earlier kick-off, stunning hosts New Zealand in Wellington.
Despite the Football Ferns enjoying 69% possession and racking up 16 shots on goal in the match, the Philippines secured a famous 1-0 win courtesy of Sarina Bolden’s first-half strike – the only shot they had on target in the entire game.
Norway, meanwhile, went into the half-time break against Switzerland with the scores tied at 0-0 despite having edged the contest, with Hegerberg’s replacement Haug coming closest to finding a breakthrough.
Their frustrations continued in the second period, with the match eventually ending in a goalless draw. It is Norway’s fourth straight game without scoring at a major tournament and they now need a win in their final match, while a point will do for the Swiss against New Zealand.
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