Berntsen selects young squad

Norway coach Bjarne Berntsen has turned to youth in his 21-strong squad for the FIFA Women's World Cup in China next month.

New talents
The 1995 winners are aiming to build on reaching the UEFA WOMEN'S EURO 2005™ final, and one of the stars two years ago in England, 19-year-old forward Isabell Herlovsen, is included again along with Guro Knutsen, 22, who scored what proved the winner against Italy on her debut in Norway's last qualifier in September. However veteran midfielder Unni Lehn misses out and while stalwart goalkeeper Bente Nordby is the sole survivor from the 1995 World Cup final starting lineup against Germany, her main back-up will be 20-year-old Erika Skarsbø. Berntsen, whose team meet Canada, Australia and Ghana in Group C in China, said: "We have two goals for this championship: to win a medal, and to qualify for next year's Olympics." To return to China in 2008, Norway must finish as one of the best three European teams in the World Cup.

Norway squad
Goalkeepers: Bente Nordby (Djurgårdens IF FF), Erika Skarsbø (Arna-Bjørnar Fotball), Christine Colombo Nilsen (Kolbotn IL).

Defenders: Ane Stangeland Horpestad (Klepp IL), Gunhild Følstad (SK Trondheims-Ørn), Siri Nordby (Røa IL), Camilla Huse (Kolbotn IL), Trine Rønning (Kolbotn IL), Marit Fiane Christensen (Røa IL).

Midfielders: Ingvild Stensland (Koppargbergs/Göteborgs FC), Solveig Gulbrandsen (Kolbotn IL), Guro Knutsen (Røa IL), Madeleine Giske (Arna-Bjørnar Fotball), Marie Knutsen (Røa IL), Lene Storløkken (Team Strømmen Fotball).

Forwards: Isabell Herlovsen (Kolbotn IL), Melissa Wiik (Asker FK), Leni Larsen Kaurin (Asker FK), Ragnhild Gulbrandsen (Asker FK), Lene Mykjåland (Røa IL), Lise Klaveness (Umeå IK).