The road to a regular place for the national team was long, difficult and tortuous.
But tonight Guru Petersen is expected to start with Norway at the European Championship premiere.
“If you had asked me three years ago, I would have never imagined I would be here today, as I told NRK.
She was selected for the Norway national team already at the age of 21. But Guru Petersen had to wait nine years to make his debut and it wasn’t until this spring that she vaulted to Norway’s 5-1 World Cup qualifier win against Kosovo.
After that, there were two more international matches against New Zealand and Denmark.
– She made two very good matches and showed that she can be a decisive goalkeeper and made several important saves against Denmark, says Norway captain Martin Segren.
And now she is expected to become the country’s first goalkeeper and guard tonight’s European Championship premiere against Northern Ireland.
The journey back to the national team was very long. It’s been a period of five years that I haven’t been with her at all so it has been a long journey as I learned a lot along the way. It feels good to be here now, she told NRK.
cruciate ligament dislocation
She had to wait so long for many reasons. Because when Guro broke through, Ingrid Helmsith was given the first goalkeeper, which she was until I put the gloves on the shelf in 2019 and then Cecily Fiskerstrand took over.
That same year, Petersen suffered a concussion that is said to be her twelfth in her career.
– I actually don’t know how many concussions I’ve had, she tells VG.
But the door to the national team opened when Cecily Fiskerstrand pulled the cruciate ligament this spring.
National team goalkeeper coach Roger Eskiland is impressed by the 30-year-old’s journey.
A lot of times, goalkeepers have to be patient. It is fun to see the patience and ambition you have shown. He says it gives results.
“Very brutal”
Petersen returned to Norway and Vålerenga last winter after two seasons at Damallsvenska Piteå.
Being a footballer is very brutal, but it is about perseverance. You have to keep working and have some luck. She says it is very hard work.
Martin Sjögren was also impressed by her long journey to a place in the national team.
– It’s never too late, now here we go to the tournament where you are most likely to get a lot of playing time. He says I am looking forward to seeing Guru in the tournament.