The entire squad and support apparatus should have flown from Leeds to Belfast at 16.45 Norwegian time on Wednesday, but the flight was first delayed by an hour and then canceled around an hour before departure.
– The journey was very different from what we first thought. We got to the airport and were ready to fly, and then we were first told that the flight was slightly delayed. Then it was cancelled, so we sat there and didn’t know much about the journey ahead. We saw that a bus was possible, but it was a long way. Eventually we were told that it was possible to take the night ferry from Liverpool to Belfast, says Mjelde to NTB
The captain of the national team further says that it could be a risk to wait until Thursday to go to Northern Ireland.
– With the weather being what it was, it could have been a risk to wait until today. Everyone got a cabin and slept a bit, and then we got to the hotel early. We have slept well. We made the absolute best of it. It was a nice story. Jeanett (team leader) did a fantastic job, so it has gone very well, says the veteran.
– Very lucky
– Did anyone get seasick?
– The sea was calm, so we were very lucky. I get car and seasick easily, so of course I was excited. I used to travel by boat like that every summer when I was going to bring the dog from England, but the weather is usually nicer in the summer, laughs Mjelde.
The centre-back does not believe that the travel problem will cause any problems in the run-up to Friday’s game.
– Hopefully it hasn’t affected us too much. We were able to relax last night and sleep well this morning. We get to train and get ready, and then it’s just a matter of collecting the batteries and recharging. We have plenty of time. I really think it will go well.
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– Made the best of it
National team manager Gemma Grainger, like Mjelde, is satisfied with the solution the squad and the support apparatus came up with.
– Plans changed. All in all, we made the best of it. We would have liked to travel here by plane, but it was fine by ferry. The most important thing was to get here as quickly as possible. We made a collective decision to take the ferry. We were here at 7.30 this morning, so it was nice, says Grainger.
– I think some people manage to sleep everywhere, but it is individual. We are satisfied with the solution, she adds.
The first of two matches in the European Championship play-off kicks off at 20:00 on Friday. On Tuesday, the return match will be played in Oslo. The overall winner goes to the football European Championship next summer.
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