HAMILTON (VG) (Switzerland 0-0 Norway) Ada Hegerberg (28) left the pitch just before kick-off in the fateful game against Switzerland due to a groin injury. The only thing that is certain before the last game of the group stage is that Norway must win to advance.

Ada Hegerberg was part of the Norwegian team’s starting line-up. She walked out of the players’ tunnel with the team, stood up for the national anthem, then walked into the ring as players usually stand for their final pep talk.

She didn’t stay there long. Shortly after, she deliberately left the field, only to learn that she had been injured during the warm-up.

– There was an acceleration just before kick-off that made me feel something. It meant I didn’t want to risk anything,” Hegerberg told Viaplay after the game.

The match itself ended with a point for Norway, bottom of their group.

– I wish I could contribute, but I think the girls work hard. We get up in a different way than before. We’re missing the last piece we need and deserve, says Hegerberg.

Nevertheless, Hege Riise’s team can progress if they beat the Philippines in the last game and get a better goal difference than the team they are tied on points with. Hegerberg does not know if she will be ready for Sunday.

– We’ll take this carefully and do it well. As always, I’m optimistic, says the super striker.

Roma player Sophie Román Haug replaced Hegerberg at the top.

After four and a half minutes, the commentator in the stadium announced that there was a change from Norway.

– She had a feeling in her groin during one of the last sprints. We didn’t want to take any risks,” assistant coach Ingvild Stensland told Viaplay during the break.

– She joined the song, what did you think then? Should Roman Haug warm up?

– She felt it during the sprint and let me know as soon as she knew it wasn’t working, Stensland said.

As a result, two of Norway’s top players have been left out of the starting lineup. After 56 minutes, Caroline Graham Hansen was substituted for her 100th match for Norway. Amalie Eikeland is gone.

Here Hegerberg is seated on the bench, well wrapped up:

– Losing such a good player just before kick-off is always tragic, but it doesn’t seem to have much effect, NRK expert Elise Thorsnes told VG during the match.

She believes that Román Haug has good qualities that Norway could benefit from.

– You have a lot of job situations and Haug is very good at them. She works well defensively and is a good blocking point, she continued.

Despite Norway working hard, the Norwegian team struggled to take all three points.

Several set-piece chances presented themselves just before the end, but a compact Switzerland put an end to those chances.

Shortly before the end, Ingrid Syrstad Engen and Marit Bratberg Lund were replaced.

With points shared with Switzerland, the Swiss team leads the group with four points. New Zealand and the Philippines trail behind with three points each.

Norway are bottom of the group with one point, and a Norwegian win and goal difference may affect the Norwegian team’s qualification for the play-offs after the last match played on Sunday.

Norway received help from the Philippines earlier on Tuesday when they beat hosts New Zealand 1-0. See the goal here:

National team manager Hege Riise made several changes to the starting line-up against Switzerland. Caroline Graham Hansen, Ingrid Syrstad Engen and Julie Blakstad were placed on the substitute bench after the opening match. Amalie Eikeland, Vilde Bøe Risa and Emilie Haavi have arrived.

However, Hegerberg was not expected to not play, and the injury could potentially make Hegerberg a doubt for the match against the Philippines.