AUCKLAND, New Zealand – Norway coach Hege Riise has high regard toward the two Norwegian-based Philippine women's football team players who are playing in the 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup.
Riise said they are already aware of what Meryll Serrano and Sara Eggesvik can bring to the Philippines when they face each other in a critical group stage match on Sunday in Eden Park.
Of the two Filipinas, it is Serrano who Riise knows very well.
READ: Norway-based Eggesvik, Meryll Serrano hope Filipinas can sustain fine run
Prior to her appointment as the women’s national coach last year, Riise coached Serrano when they were together with LSK Kvinner, a club team based in Lillestrom, Norway. Serrano played for the club in 2019.
“She played for me when I was a club coach in Lillestrom,” said Riise, one of the most revered players of Norway football before she moved to the coaching ranks. “She is a good technical player, good sense of humor, and always fun to discuss tactics and football.”

While Serrano came in as a substitute in this Fifa Women’s World Cup campaign against Switzerland, Eggesvik has produced a memorable moment in the tournament with her assist to Sarina Bolden for the Philippines’ first goal in history against New Zealand.
Aside from being good players, Riise said in jest that her players also need to be careful because Serrano and Eggesvik can speak the Norwegian language.
“Both of them, we know [they] are quite good,” said Riise. “It’s funny. When we talk tactics, we need to be careful because they will know what [we] will be saying. We’ll have some signs.”
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