Determined Wiik gunning for Iceland

Five months on from a 3-1 defeat in the Algarve Cup, Norway striker Melissa Wiik has warned Iceland they can "expect something else" when the teams meet in their second Group B match of UEFA WOMEN'S EURO 2009™.

Friendly encounter
The setback in Portugal was the first time Bjarne Berntsen's team had lost to their Nordic rivals in six previous meetings and came at a time when the squad was in a period of transition after several players had retired from international football, once qualification for Finland had been secured. Wiik, however, is adamant her team will be a much tougher proposition for Iceland on Thursday and dismisses suggestions that the 4 March loss could give their opponents a psychological advantage.

'New team'
"I don't think it will have an effect because we had quite a new team at the beginning of the year and now we have been playing together a lot since March and we are a much better team," the Stabæk FK forward told uefa.com. "Iceland can expect something else from what they encountered in the Algarve Cup."

Opening losses
Wiik echoed the thoughts of her team-mate, Trine Rønning, that Norway will have to get to grips with Iceland's physical approach if they are to kick-start their campaign following the 4-0 loss to Germany on Monday. Iceland also suffered a setback in what was their first match in a senior final tournament, losing 3-1 to France, and Wiik cites Norway's vast experience of playing on the big stage as something which could be key in Lahti.

Pacy side
"Iceland is a small country and most of the squad are home-based so I think they are very close to each other, have a good relationship and fight for each other," said the 24-year-old. "They are a fast side and are strong so we have to be patient but it is routine for many of our players to play in championships like this."

Possible omen
Norway finished runners-up to Germany at UEFA WOMEN'S EURO 2005™ after opening their campaign with a defeat by the same opposition. Four years on, Wiik – who did not feature in the squad in England – is not ruling out a similar course of events. "It could happen exactly the same [way] and quite often when you play that good it's not easy because Germany will have to maintain the same standard of performance every game. It is easier for us to come from being down."