AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) - Norway ahead and 2018 Ballon d’Or winner Ada Hegerberg is out with a groin damage for her nation’s remaining group stage match Sunday towards the Philippines.

“We knew there was a possibility that once she got injured that she would not play,” head coach Hege Riise mentioned at a media convention Saturday. “The medical team have been working with Ada to see whether it was possible for her to play the match, but today it has turned out that she cannot play tomorrow.”

Hegerberg walked off the sector simply earlier than Norway was set to kick off towards Switzerland on Tuesday, which resulted in a 0-0 draw. Hegerberg was later identified with a groin damage.

The Norwegians are going through potential elimination and are final in Group A after shedding their opening match to New Zealand earlier than the draw with Switzerland. Any outcome apart from a win in Sunday’s match towards the Philippines means Norway gained’t advance to the knockout stage.

Hegerberg returned to Norway’s nationwide staff in 2022 after a five-year protest over a pay dispute, making this the primary World Cup she’s performed since 2015.

Norway was one of many favorites to win the group after reaching the quarterfinals within the 2019 World Cup. Now, the Norwegians discover themselves on the point of group-stage elimination with out their star participant.

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AP World Cup protection: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-womens-world-cup and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

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