Sweden 2

Norway 3

(after extra time)

NORWAY stand in the way of Germany winning a fourth successive European Championship crown.

The two giants of 'the more beautiful game' are to clash in the UEFA Women's Championship final at Ewood Park on Sunday, kick-off 3.15pm, following Norway's gruelling extra-time victory in the Battle of Scandinavia in Warrington last night, Thursday.

Sunday's showpiece showdown is a repeat of the championship's opening Group B clash in Warrington, where Conny Pohlers' solitary strike separated the teams.

Norway, the only team to have won the European, World and Olympic titles, are taking encouragement from their June 6 performance going into the final but they also have concerns following 120 minutes of football to get them there.

Head coach Bjarne Berntsen, who is only six months into his job and has led Norway to their first appearance in the final for 12 years, said after the semi-final victory: "I'm very pleased and satisfied. All that I regret is that having the extra time was too tough a game before the final.

"We only have two days rest before the final, whereas Germany will have had three days rest and a much easier semi final against Finland on Wednesday.

"My players are very tired but we can't use that as an excuse. We have to do the best things that we can to prepare for Germany.

"We know we have to be on top form again on Sunday if we are to win. Some of our best football of the championship came against Germany in that opening game, while we've also improved through the championship in the way that we are fighting and not giving up.

"We hope to be as good on Sunday, if possible, as we were in the first game and we also have to accept that Germany are big favourites, even bigger now after the extra day's rest and easier semi final."

Gritty Norway could be labelled the survivors of Euro 2005.

An 87th-minute 'goal' scored for France by Sandrine Soubeyrand in the second Group B game in Warrington was set to knock Berntsen's girls out of the championship, until it was controversially ruled out for offside.

And it was only after France's heavy 3-0 defeat to Germany, and Norway's 5-3 victory over Italy, that allowed the Scandinavians to go through to the semis on goal difference.

Then it was the ability to overcome tired legs in last night's extra time drama that sealed Norway's glory.

World-class midfielder Solveig Gulbrandsen, who scored the first goal and the winner against Sweden, epitomised the team's effort in her player of the match performance.

Berntsen said: "Solveig was so tired after 90 minutes that we had to put her up front in extra time but it paid off."

Unmarked Gulbrandsen beautifully volleyed home from Dagny Mellgren's cross to seal the tie three minutes into the second period of extra time.

Sweden, who had forced the extra period when striker Hanna Ljungberg fired home her second goal in the 88th minute, were unable to trouble Norway's outstanding goalkeeper Bente Nordby after Gulbrandsen's winner.

Gulbrandsen, a 24-year-old marketing consultant, initially put Norway ahead against the run of play in the 39th minute, after latching on to Ingvild Stensland's super long pass and lobbing the advanced keeper Hedvig Lindahl.

Within two minutes Sweden were back on level terms as Ljungberg's diving header from Victoria Svensson's cross left keeper Nordby with no chance.

Norway, who had relied heavily on counter attacking football in the first half, grew in strength with the majority of the 5,722 crowd behind them.

They took the lead for the second time in the 63rd minute. Gulbrandsen's accurate cross was headed home by 16-year-old striker Isabell Herlovsen, whose previous headed goal against France had kept her country in the competition.

The stage is set for the German-born student to celebrate next week's 17th birthday in fairytale style at Ewood Park on Sunday.

Sweden: Hedvig Lindahl, Jane Trnqvist, Hanna Marklund, Kristin Bengtsson, Malin Mostrm, Sara Larsson, Hanna Ljungberg, Victoria Svensson (Lotta Schelin 48mins), Therese Sjgran (Josephine qvist 70mins), Caroline Seger (Frida stberg 46mins), Anna Sjstrm.

Norway: Bente Nordby, Ane Stangeland, Gunhild Flstad, Ingvild Stensland, Marit Fiane Christensen (Maritha Kaufmann 79mins), Solveig Gulbrandsen, Isabell Herlovsen (Stine Frantzen 64mins), Unni Lehn (Trine Rnning 59mins), Dagny Mellgren, Marianne Paulsen, Lise Klaveness.

Referee: Kari Seitz (USA).