Ada Hegerberg: Why 2018’s Ballon d’Or winner will miss the Women’s World Cup

Ballon d’Or holder Ada Hegerberg has not been included in Norway’s squad for the Women’s World Cup, which takes place in France this summer.

Hegerberg has refused to play for the Norwegian national team since 2017 after accusing her country of a lack of respect towards female footballers.

https://audioboom.com/posts/7246453-like-a-broken-mirror-man-utd-s-top-knot-curse-lingers-on

Although the Lyon striker’s absence from the squad was expected, her omission comes as a blow to Norway’s chances of winning the World Cup for the second time.

Hegerberg, who won the Ballon d’Or at a ceremony last December, stopped playing for her country months before an equal pay agreement between the Norwegian Football Association and the Norway’s players’ association came to pass.

“As a coach, you need to focus on the players who want to be a part of the team and Ada doesn’t.” – Norway coach Martin Sjogren

Since then efforts have been made to bring the 23-year-old back into the fold, but Norway coach Martin Sjogren claims Hegerberg’s stance has not changed.

Sjorgen told the BBC: “As a coach, you need to focus on the players who want to be a part of the team and Ada doesn’t.

“We respect that and we have been working hard with the other players and they have been doing a great job.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J05bCIwJewc&t=2s

Subscribe to Squawka’s Youtube channel here.

Hegerberg’s sister Andrine, who plays for Paris Saint-Germain, will also not travel to France this summer.

Norway last won the Women’s World Cup in 1995, beating Germany 2-0 in the final. The nation reached the semi-finals in 1999 and 2007.