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Norway hoping ‘best in the world’ defence can stop England’s ‘world-class’ Kirby in Women’s World Cup quarter-final clash

Guro Reiten believes there is no better defensive partnership than Norway's and hopes that will be enough to stop England on Thursday

Guro Reiten is counting on Norway’s central defensive partnership of Maria Thorisdottir and Maren Mjelde to thwart “world-class” Fran Kirby, as they prepare to face England in the Women’s World Cup quarter-final.

Thorisdottir and Mjelde know Kirby very well as the trio play together in England with Chelsea – a club that Reiten herself will join after this summer’s tournament.

And after the pair kept Sam Kerr quiet in their penalty shootout win over Australia, the 24-year-old says they are the best defensive pairing in the world.