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Norway – Denmark 27-23 (10-13)
The Norwegian handball girls are ready for the final of the European Championship after beating Denmark 27-23, but it was a stressful battle for a long time.
Jesper Jensen’s girls rocked Norway before the break and held a three-goal lead at the break, but the game turned around eight minutes into the second half. In the final ten minutes of the match, Norway took command and secured the final ticket.
– It’s fantastic. We work very well all the time, but we can’t vote. We couldn’t get the ball into the goal, but it was fantastic. It shows that we are good together, says Katrine Lunde, who replaced Silje Solberg in the second half and made several important saves.
Player Swap: Svele deals three nines
– Very delicious. I’m so relieved and it’s so delicious that we were able to flip it. There were some harrowing minutes in the second half, says Stine Skogrand.
Norway now have 14 (!) Consecutive wins over Denmark, who have not beaten the Norwegian girls since the run-up to the European Championships in 2014.
Nora Mørk became Norway’s top scorer with six goals in nine attempts.
France next
In Sunday’s final in Herning, France awaits, they crushed Croatia earlier in the night.
– Against France, we don’t have to have such a long period in which we don’t play our best. They certainly have a lot to play for, both in attack and defense. They are more dynamic and a team that prepares very well. There are good chances for us in that match, but we must be even better, says Stine Bredal Oftedal.
– It’s always hard. They are usually regular matches, but still with a lot of pace. Of course it will be very tough, but it would have been fun if we also showed ourselves from a good side on Sunday, says Lunde.
France in the final: – The only team that can beat Norway
– It will be a difficult match. They have played consistently in many championship games and we know each other well before. We have something to avenge ourselves for in 2017, says Skogrand, and he is aiming for a final defeat to France at the World Cup three years ago.
The Danes shook Norway
Norway did not have a good first half and fell behind with four goals at 6-10, 8-12 and 9-13. At the rear of Denmark, Sandra Toft was fantastic and saved 44 per cent of the shots that came from Norway in the first half hour.
However, Toft was unable to stop Veronica Kristiansen’s reduction from long range to 10-13 seconds before the break signal reached Herning.
Silje Solberg, who had a 32 save percentage before the break, was replaced by Katrine Lunde from the start of the second half. Kristiansanderen started by saving the first shot that came from the Danes.
Turned in the second round
Six minutes into the second half, Stine Bredal Oftedal hit the crossbar and ensured the teams were tied for 14-14.
A few minutes later, Norway took the lead again at 16-15, but the teams followed like shadows in the following period.
In the last ten minutes of the match, the Norwegian handball girls connected their grip on the final ticket. Norway had a five goal advantage. At the same time, the Danes hit the wood several times. In the end, Norway won the match 27-23.
