(My Sportsbook) - Norway has long been one of the powers in women's soccer, reaching the final of the inaugural World Cup in 1991 and winning the tournament in 1995. However, Norway was knocked out in the semifinals in 1999 and bounced in the quarterfinals in 2003.

Now, this traditional power is trying to regain its top form and reverse their disappointing trend of results at recent World Cups.

The team took its first step towards regaining elite status by advancing to the final in the EURO 2005 tournament, and Norway will be expecting to build on that result with a balanced team that will prove to be a handful for any side in the world.

Manager Bjarne Berntsen can count on having one of the best keepers in the world with Bente Nordby between the posts. Sturdy defender Ana Stangeland will anchor a rugged back line in front of Nordby, and the return of creative midfielder Solveig Gulbrandsen, who took a year off to have her first child, will give the Norwegians a playmaker in the center of the pitch.

Two new faces to Norway's national team, 16-year-old Isabell Herlovsen and Stine Frantzen from the U-19 team, will make their much-anticipated World Cup debuts after breakout performances for Norway in the EURO 2005 tournament.

If there is one area that is not quite up to par, it is Norway's play in front of goal. The Norwegians have struggled at times to find the back of the net, something that could prove to be their downfall despite a stellar team everywhere else.

The 2006 Algarve Cup provided evidence that Norway still has work to do up top as the club failed to score in any of its three matches.

Norway breezed through qualifying with a 7-0-1 mark, and recorded a plus-19 goal differential in those eight games.

They should have no problem advancing through the group stage, which includes Canada, Ghana and Australia in Group C. They open up with Canada, in what should be the toughest match in the group stage, before taking on Australia and Ghana.

Norway has more than enough power to win this group, but the real questions will be asked once they reach the final eight. The team is ranked fourth in the latest FIFA rankings, so it is not like they have fallen from grace. However, anything less than an appearance in the final four will raise questions as to the direction of women's soccer in Norway.

The team has plenty of answers in a roster that is filled with talented players, but you can bet that Berntsen knows what is expected of his side this time around.

"We're aiming for a top-three spot in China," Berntsen told FIFA's website. "We've got a good mixture of youth and experience. We've got Bente Nordby, Ragnhild Gulbrandsen and Ingvild Stensland. And we'll have Solveig Gulbrandsen back in the side as well."

PAST ACHIEVEMENTS:

-- Champion FIFA Women's World Cup - 1995

-- 2nd FIFA Women's World Cup - 1991

-- 4th FIFA Women's World Cup - 1999

-- Quarter-finalists FIFA Women's World Cup - 2003

-- Champion Olympic Games - 2000

-- 3rd Olympic Games - 1996

-- Champion UEFA European Women's Championship - 1987, 1993

-- 2nd UEFA European Women's Championship - 1989, 1991, 2005

-- Semi-final UEFA European Women's Championship - 1995, 2001

-- Champion Algarve Cup - 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998

-- 2nd Algarve Cup - 2000, 2002