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With a very strong victory over Russia in the last match of the main round, Denmark secured a semi-final of the fully Scandinavian European Championship against Norway on Friday night.
The coach of the Denmark national team, Jesper Jensen (43), answers in cash “no” to the question of whether he sees weaknesses in the Norwegian team.
– It is a tactical move, counterattack the head of Norway, Thorir Hergeirsson.
– It certainly exists, if it first shared, but it will not share. I understand that well. We have weaknesses like any other team, but we do not intend to talk about them. Not in public, at least, he continues.
The North Counter Machine
Jesper Jensen believes that Friday’s opponent is alone as an EC favorite after having two gold favorites before the championship: Russia and Norway.
– Norway is Norway. They run the entire nail twice for 30 minutes. Some teams last 15, 45 or zero minutes, but against Norway you face every time you take your foot off the gas pedal a little or are off-focus, he says.
SEES NO WEAKNESSES: Denmark’s national team manager Jesper Jensen believes the Norwegian team has no weaknesses. Photo: Ludvig Thunman / BILDBYRÅN
Let’s take an example in Croatia, who went 35 minutes and led 19-18, but then they lost a period of 1-11 or something like that. The challenge is that they work like a counter machine. We were good against them last time, so we can copy both games, we have the opportunity to offer a beautiful handball match reminiscent of Norway-Denmark of yesteryear, but also to win, he says.
Jesper Jensen also believes that Norway has been able to prepare for the European Championship semi-finals for ten days, while Denmark could only think about that after the seven-goal win over Russia on Tuesday night.
See a sharper Denmark
Norway narrowly beat the Danes in two training matches just before the start of the European Championship. Then Hergeirsson was so impressed with Jensen’s girls that he predicted the semi-finals in Denmark. Now Hergeirsson believes that the Danes have taken new steps in the European Championship.
– All teams that reach the semifinals tend to develop in individual players and their game. From what I could see in their matches against Russia, Sweden and France, they had the same game and the same players, but they were somewhat sharper in various areas. It’s natural, Hergeirsson says, and signals a strong defense in Denmark.
Jensen also spoke of being inspired by the Norwegian team.
– We have a good relationship and have had contact with Jesper due to the fact that he has been the club’s coach in Esbjerg for a long time. We have talked about club and national team handball before, and I can understand that it does. You always look for impulse and inspiration in others, says Hergeirsson.
– In recent years, the Danes have gained several steps from players like Mia Rej and Mie Højlund, players who speed up, get into duels and are good with space. It is mixed with shooters. The Danes have always had good counterattack players, but now they are betting more on speed, the Icelander believes.
The winner of Friday’s Scandinavian semi-final will face France or Croatia in Sunday’s European Championship final in Herning.
