Berntsen backs Norway to hit form in Finland

Bjarne Berntsen took over as Norway coach just before UEFA WOMEN'S EURO 2005™ and led them to the final, but four years on his task looks harder. Marit Fiane Christensen, Guro Knutsen, Marie Knutsen, Lene Mykjåland and Siri Nordby all left the squad while qualifying and friendly results this year have been disappointing, with defeats against teams including finals opponents Iceland. However Berntsen, whose side begin their campaign in Finland on 24 August against the side that beat them in the 2005 decider, Germany, told uefa.com that he is confident they can peak at the right time.

uefa.com: It has been a mixed start to 2009 for Norway. Are you confident you will be in top form when the finals start in August?

Bjarne Berntsen: I think so, because we have many new players in our squad now. We have enough time to get a new team organised and in good shape when we get to the championship in August.

uefa.com: Are you happy with the current blend of experienced and younger players?

Berntsen: We have a lot of young promising players coming up in Norway, but as a coach, it would have been a better blend if we had some more experienced players. Some of the players, even if they are young, have experienced a lot. Many of them played in the 2005 championship, many of them in the 2007 [FIFA Women's World Cup] and many of them played at the 2008 Olympics. So even if some of them are very young, they are very experienced when it comes to championships.

uefa.com: You start your finals against familiar opponents. Do you think this time you can beat Germany?

Berntsen: We have had a very good record in recent years against Germany. We beat them once in the Algarve two seasons ago and we beat them twice last year, both in the Algarve Cup and also in Norway before the Olympics. I think we've played very good football against Germany in the last two seasons.

uefa.com: You lost to Iceland for the first time in March's Algarve Cup. Was that a useful wake-up call before you play them again in Finland?

Berntsen: Yes, because now the players know the quality of the new countries entering the European Championship is much higher than many people expected. Iceland were also very close to getting a point against the United States. That tells a lot about the quality that is now in the Iceland side.

uefa.com: Do you think France have improved since you drew them in 2005?

Berntsen: I think every team has improved and the standard of women's football is definitely much higher in 2009 than it was in 2005. There are so many teams coming up now with a lot of quality. It is not only five or six European teams, it is 12 or 13 or 14 teams that are very good. There are no longer easy games in this championship.