Soccer. ‘Just a taste,’ warns Hegerberg after Norway return hat-trick

Norway women’s star Ada Hegerberg scored a hat-trick Thursday night for her return to the national team, but deemed the easy victory against Kosovo (5-1) was only a taste.​.

The Olympique Lyonnais striker found the national jersey at the age of 26 after almost five years of absence, caused by a long quarrel with the Norwegian federation. It’s a good start, but we will work hard to go further​, said the first women’s Ballon d’Or in history.

It was just a taste. We can still go up several notches and become a dangerous weapon against the greatest nations​, she told Norwegian media after the 2023 World Cup qualifier.

A hat-trick for his return

Holder for his big comeback Thursday evening in Sandefjord, Hegerberg quickly signed a double (21^and and 23^and minutes), before scoring Norway’s fourth goal in the second half (60^and), bringing his tally to 41 goals in 67 appearances.

The Norwegian star had withdrawn from the national team after a disappointing Euro-2017, citing in particular a gender inequality in the bonuses paid by the federation. Victim of a serious knee injury which kept her out of the field for almost two years, Ada Hegerberg returned to competition in October 2021 with Lyon, with whom she was crowned European champion five times.

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His return comes three months before the Euro, played in England. On Tuesday, Norway faces Poland, still in a qualifying match for the World Cup, disputed next year in Australia and New Zealand.