During Norway's 6-0 victory against the Philippines, their tactical setup proved to be highly advantageous. All the elements that had not fallen into place during their first two group matches seemed to synchronize perfectly in this crucial game, which was a must win for Norway to advance into the Round of 16. While Sophie Roman Haug played a significant role as Norway's savior, it was Vilde Bøe Risa who stood at the core of their dominant performance.

Last season, at Manchester United, Vilde had limited opportunities, accumulating just 362 minutes of game time in the WSL. Nevertheless, whenever she got the chance to play, she revitalized the team with her exceptional performances. In the FA Cup campaign, she emerged as their standout player, scoring crucial goals that played a significant role in their journey to the final. This earned her a callup for the World Cup, where she has replicated the impressive performances she delivered for her club.

In the match against Philippines, Vilde took center stage as every pass made by Norway revolved around her, showcasing her exceptional distribution skills that distinguished her from the rest. Playing as a deep-lying playmaker, she became the conductor of Norway's attack, expertly orchestrating their buildup into the final third. Her line-breaking passes and precise through balls into the half spaces enabled players like Roman Haug, Reiten, Graham Hansen, and Haavi to launch attacking movements into the box.

Vilde's technical knowledge and exceptional vision make her a valuable asset to any team, and she brilliantly showcased these skills yesterday by taking charge of the game's tempo. Throughout the match, she proved to be a prolific creator, generating the highest number of chances with four, and successfully delivering 17 passes into the final third. Additionally, her precise crossing ability was evident, as she completed both of her attempted crosses, with one of them resulting in the assist for Haug's goal. Her accuracy in long balls was remarkable, attempting 14 and hitting the mark with 13 of them. Furthermore, she demonstrated her defensive capabilities by making 11 recoveries during the game.

Technical players like Vilde Bøe Risa make this sport beautiful.