Gulbrandsen revives glory days

By Michael Harrold & Eivind Aarre

Norway will be looking to midfielder Solveig Gulbrandsen to inspire a return to the glory days when they kick off their 2005 UEFA European Women's Championship campaign against Germany today.

Attacking fulcrum
Gulbrandsen is the attacking fulcrum of the Norwegian midfield and could spring an early surprise against the tournament favourites in Warrington. Norway's strength lies in a solid defence backed by the consistency of veteran goalkeeper Bente Nordby. But the key to any success will depend on Gulbrandsen, whose skill and guile ensure Norway will not be taken lightly.

'Key figure'
"She's very good running with the ball, attacking defenders," coach Bjarne Berntsen told uefa.com. "She's a good finisher and one of the key figures in our offensive pattern of play. She's very ambitious and hates to lose, even in training. She's the type of player that gives everything."

Family affair
Gulbrandsen comes into the championship in excellent form, with her club side, Kolbotn IL, on top of the Norwegian Toppserien. She has spent her entire career at Kolbotn, taking them to their first title in 2002, then being voted Norwegian Player of the Year the following season. It would take a lot to prize her away from the club which her father, Terje, a former Vålerenga IF player, helps run.

Taste of success
Gulbrandsen made her debut for the national side in a 3-2 victory against Germany in June 1998 and has gone on to win over 90 caps for Norway, scoring 25 times. Having tasted success by winning an Olympic gold medal in Sydney in 2000, she is determined to take Norway back to the top.

Olympic winner
Indeed Norway, the only country to have won world, European and Olympic honours, have grown accustomed to success down the years but it is half a decade since they last lifted a major trophy. Gulbrandsen was just 19 when she played her part in guiding her country to gold in Sydney, but that experience is proving invaluable as she helps Bernsten bring the best out of a young Norwegian squad.

'A leader'
"She's a leader who keeps up the atmosphere and spirit in the squad - a very positive player," Bernsten said. "She is one of only four players remaining [in the squad] from Sydney 2000 and so is one of the most experienced players, even if she's still very young and has a lot of good years in front of her. She tries to teach the younger players the benefit of her experience. She shows how hard they have to work to get to the top."

Aiming high
And Gulbrandsen will settle for nothing less. The 24-year-old scored a hat-trick in her side's 7-2 first-leg play-off win against Iceland which assured Norway a place in the finals, and believes her team-mates should be aiming high in England. "Now that we are here, we aim to get as far as possible. We should have no reason to fear anyone," she said.

'Motivated'
"We lost to England in a recent warm-up game, but that only makes us more motivated to beat them when it matters." That is expecting a lot from her side, but Gulbrandsen has never been one to accept second best.