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There will be a Scandinavian duel for the final ticket at the European Handball Championship when Norway and Denmark bark together in Herning on Friday night.
Norway was already ready for the semi-finals before Tuesday’s big win against Hungary, but Denmark had to beat Russia in the last match to move on. The Danes had a very strong seven goal victory against the Russians.
– If someone had told me 13 days ago that we were going to play the semi-final of the European Championship, I probably would have laughed a lot, says Mia Rej from Denmark to Danish TV 2 after the victory over Russia.
– We crushed Russia. What happens? I do not know how to explain it. He is mega fat. We’re in the semi-finals, but we can’t understand it, says national team friend Line Haugsted.
– The whole team created the feeling that we beat Russia, says Trine Østergaard.
Own prophecy recovered
But not everyone is as surprised as Danish girls to play for medals at home.
– It’s a bit curious that it was Denmark, because all the experts have always said Russia and France. When I said Denmark was good enough for the semi-finals, everyone laughed at me, but they do it all the time, so it’s going well, Thorir Hergeirsson, director of the Norwegian national team, tells TV3 with a smile.
The Norwegian handball girls beat Denmark in two training matches the week before the European Championship, but according to Hergeirsson, the players were “half bitter” for not winning by more than 27-25 and 29-26.
– I told the players after the two training matches against Denmark that this Danish team can play a semi-final well. He was right about that, Hergeirsson says at the press conference after Tuesday’s win over Hungary.
Danish warning to Norway
The Danes have great respect for Friday’s opponent, and rightly so, because Norway has the stats on their side with 13 consecutive wins against Denmark. Since the 2014 European Championship, Norway has not lost to Denmark.
Despite the grim statistics, there is optimism in Denmark.
-They know that we were not far in the two training matches, so they will take care of themselves, because we are not going to bed, Mia Rej warns.
– They will be a handful, but with what we have shown here we can believe in everything. But it will be a “tough” fight, says Louise Burgaard.
– We have had good control of Norway in the last matches, but they have been lucky. If we are as good as against Russia, we will also take Norway, believes Line Haugsted.
– Do not surprise with the Danish victory
TV 2 handball expert Bent Svele believes both Norway and Denmark are better than when they met after some preparations in Vejle just before the championship.
Svele believes that Norway is the favorite in the meeting with the Danes.
– But nothing violent. It’s no wonder Denmark win the semi-finals as smoothly as they are now. The best team may have a slightly worse day, and now win or lose, says Svele.
Hergeirsson believes that it is completely open.
– All finals are open. It is important to be good there, says the Icelander.
For Nora Mørk, the games against Denmark mean much more.
– They are good at finishing games with good shooters in all positions. It was a bit difficult to resolve in the first practice match, but we did well in the second. There were two games that we didn’t do very well, but we managed to win. Father, Friday is going to be very exciting. If there is anyone we want to beat, it is Denmark. And that’s the last one we will lose to, Mørk tells TV3.
France and Croatia meet in the second semi-final. The final is on Sunday.
