THUN, SWITZERLAND – JULY 10: Signe Gaupset of Norway celebrates with teammates Emilie Woldvik and Maren Mjelde after scoring her team’s first goal during the UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 Group A match between Norway and Iceland at Arena Thun on July 10, 2025 in Thun, Switzerland. (Photo by Alex Caparros – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
Signe Gaupset and Frida Maanum both scored twice as Norway survived a late Iceland fightback to extend their 100% winning start at Euro 2025.
SK Brann’s 20-year-old forward Gaupset, one of six changes made by coach Gemma Grainger, assisted both of Maanum’s goals after scoring a double of her own.
There was nothing at stake at Stockhorn Arena, with Norway having already qualified for the quarter-finals as group winners while Iceland had already been eliminated from the tournament after defeats in their opening two games.
Iceland were on top when they took the lead and scored their first goal of the tournament through Sveindis Jonsdottir, who reacted quickest to a loose ball from a corner and fired past Cecilie Fiskerstrand from close range.
Their lead lasted just nine minutes as Norway grew into the game and scored from a set-piece of their own, this time Gaupset volleying in from Vilde Boe Risa’s corner.
Gaupset scored her second 11 minutes later after collecting the ball on the turn before running at goal and unleashing a fierce strike into the bottom corner.
She then turned provider for Maanum after the break, playing a one-two with the Arsenal forward, who clinically finished from inside the box.
The pair linked up again as Maanum made a driving run forward from Gaupset’s ball and scored Norway’s fourth from the edge of the box with 14 minutes left.
Iceland gave Norway a nervy end to the game with two late goals.
Substitute Hlin Eiriksdottir scored in the 84th minute before Glodis Viggosdottir converted a penalty awarded by the video assistant referee in injury time after Marit Lund’s shirt pull on Eiriksdottir, for which the Norway defender received a second yellow card.
Despite a spirited end to the game, Iceland could not find a way back to register their first point in Switzerland.
What was the main talking point?
With a place in the last eight already secured, it was a question of whether Norway boss Grainger would stick or twist with her starting XI.
Would she help the regulars to build momentum heading into the knockouts, or give other players a chance?
Throughout the tournament the Englishwoman has spoken about the “importance of every player” in her squad and she made six changes, resting captain Ada Hegerburg, plus Guro Reiten, Caroline Graham Hansen, Ingrid Engen, Thea Bjelde and Lund.
It was a slow start from the two-time champions as they found themselves behind, but the new-look line-up showed fight and hunger and dominated across the pitch.
It was far from a perfect performance though, with a number of misplaced passes, wasted chances and they once again faded away towards the end of the game with two goals conceded after the 84th minute.
Their defensive frailties must be addressed, but among the positives to take was the fact that Lund was the only rested player that Grainger turned to from the bench.
Having already met Iceland twice in 2025 with two draws against them in the Nations League, it was third time lucky for Norway who now go into the quarter-finals full of confidence.
