Women's World Cup: Hegerberg blow for Norway in must-win clash against upbeat Philippines on Saturday

Norway will be without star striker Ada Hegerberg for their must-win Women's World Cup clash with against an upbeat Philippines on Sunday

The former Ballon d'Or winner has not recovered from the groin injury that forced her to pull out of Tuesday's 0-0 draw with Switzerland just before kick-off.

"She is not ready for this game," coach Hege Riise said on Saturday. "It came too early after her injury. She is still working to be ready for the next game."

The Filipinas are on a high following Tuesday’s 1-0 victory over New Zealand’s Football Ferns in Wellington, prompting the worldwide media attention.

However, coach Alen Stajcic would rather that his players to stay grounded.

“At this point in time, we [will] reflect on what the world thinks of us later on,” Stajcic told Manila-based reporters at Olympic Park.

“We’re making sure that we’re in a good mindset and block all that other stuff and issue. Whether it’s good noise or bad noise, we just don’t need that at the moment,.

“In terms of the group, they are full of confidence, they have some belief and they’ve earned the right to feel like that, being in this position in terms of confidence also with points on the board," the Philippines Equirer reported.

Lyon striker Hegerberg, the all-time top scorer in the UEFA Champions League, had lined up for the national anthems just before kick-off against Switzerland.

However, she then promptly headed back to the dressing room, saying later that she had felt a pain in her groin in the warm-up.

Stajcic is calling for his team to say focused and not get carried away by issues Norway has been experiencing.

“I think every team has their issues,” Stajcic said with Norway dealing with Ada Hegerberg’s injury and the aftermath of Caroline Graham Hansen’s public grievance over playing minutes.

“And because they’re maybe publicized, we knew that stuff is a little bit exaggerated,” Stajcic said.

“But they’re wounded animals as well. They would have taken a hit to their pride, they can come out fighting and they’re not [former] champions for no reason."

Without Hegerberg Norway again toiled in front of goal, the goalless draw coming after a 1-0 defeat against co-hosts New Zealand in the tournament's opening game.