– It’s the first time I’ve seen something like that in my career. But it’s hot. It’s summer, and we’re in a hot country. It’s a classic championship feeling, says Ada Hegerberg to NRK.
Giant fans placed all over St. Jakob-Park greeted the Norwegian players at training the day before the European Championship kicked off.
FANS: Several giant fans were placed around the entire St. Jakob-Park stadium.
The heat wave that is ravaging Europe with temperatures reaching 50 degrees in the far south has also reached the host country Switzerland. The sight of large fans therefore caused joy for Norway captain Ada Hegerberg, but also confusion.
– We’ll have to wait and see if they’ll be on during the game tomorrow. We’re playing at nine tomorrow, so the worst of the heat will be over by then. But it could be that they’ve turned them on for our training. It’s hard to say.
But the fans are not meant to cool the players during matches. NRK also observed that the fans were turned off before the training session for Noreg stara.
National team manager Gemma Grainger must disappoint the Norwegian players.
CHIEF: National team coach Gemma Grainger would like to have a fan on the bench during Norway’s matches.
– I think it’s for the grass. I would have preferred it to be for the people who are here, but it’s clearly for the grass. I’ve seen it before on warm grass mats, even though I’m not a track crew.
She would still hope that the fan could do more than just keep the grass fresh.
– I would like to have one next to me on the bench and for the players if possible, she says with a smile.
Cools down the players
The heat in the Swiss capital Basel was the talk of the town as the national team met with the press the day before their opening match against the host nation. It is expected to be around 30 degrees when Norway’s match kicks off on Wednesday.
UEFA confirms in an email to NRK that the fans are there for the grass and not for the players. This is a move that can be made in the most modern arenas in the world to keep the grass in the best possible condition.
Grainger emphasizes that the temperature has not been as harsh as she thought it would be.
– The weather is what it is. The weather is rain, wind, sun. There is no excuse. It is just something you have to deal with. For both teams it is exactly the same.
The Norwegian team has taken several steps to cope with the heat that will confront the players.
HOT: Cold cloths and ice baths are used to cool down the players in the extreme heat.
– We have ice baths and cold ice, so we have many strategies to ensure that they are hydrated and that their bodies stay cool, says the national team manager.
Ada Hegerberg is prepared for the heat.
– There are quite a few of us who play in a warm climate every day, you could say. Some more than others. But now we have had a few days here. The heat is a challenge for everyone. It’s the same for both teams.
The Norwegian women went to a smash in their last test before the European Championship, when they lost 0-2 against Sweden at Ullevål stadium on Thursday last week.
You can listen to the match on the NRK Sport channel from 20.45 on Wednesday or watch it on TV 2 Direkte.
You can listen to the match on the NRK Sport channel from 8:45 p.m. Wednesday or watch it on TV 2 Direkte.