Even without Nora Mørk (pregnant) and Stine Oftedal Dahmke (laid up), the reigning Olympic champions from the north had little trouble in Innsbruck. Norway took their 13th win out of a possible 13 against Slovenia.
Norway opened nervously and disheveled, and it was Slovenia who scored the first two goals of the match. Captain Reistad ensured that Norway was in the lead for the first time with his 4-3 scoring, and from there on there was little doubt who was clearly the best team.
Norway started rolling, and went into the break with 16-11. Henny Reistad is the world’s best female handball player, and Norway’s jewel scored five goals in the first 30 minutes. In the second half, she put another four and became Norway’s top scorer. She was also voted Norway’s best player by TV 2’s viewers and by the jury in the hall in Austria.
– A messy fight. We had the opportunity to win with ten, but won with seven. There is a lot to work with. We won comfortably, and that’s good enough, said national team coach Thorir Hegeirsson.
Knotty
At the finish, Silje Solberg-Østhassel had one of her quietest days at work. In the 2nd half, veteran Katrine Lunde entered between the bars for Norway. Lunde was in charge of the Golden League matches in Denmark during the run-up to the championships in Austria, Hungary and Switzerland.
– It was a knotty start with many technical errors, but it loosened up a bit towards the end, assistant national team coach Tonje Larsen concluded to TV 2 before the break.
In the second half, Slovenia closed in on Norway at the start. At half-time in the second half, the lead had narrowed to three goals, but it was still not enough for Thorir Hergeirsson to have to bite too many nails in his first game in his last championship as Norwegian national team coach. Norway started again and won comfortably.
Norway never sparkled, although there was never any danger of the victory slipping away. Norway was the best team and deservedly won.
Austria next
On the pitch, Anniken Oblaidi (29) from Storhamar made her EC debut. It is almost 10 years since her first international match for Norway. Oblaidi has injured her cruciate ligament three times and said no to more national team games in 2022, before she made herself available again this autumn.
Norway are big favorites to win group E.
Earlier on Thursday, Austria won 37-24 over Slovakia in the same group E. Norway’s next match is against Austria on Saturday. The last match in the group stage is played on Monday. Then Slovakia awaits.
Norway has nine, gold and 13 medals from a total of 15 European Championships. Norway is among the medal favorites this time as well.
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THE FACTS OF COMBAT
European Women’s Playoffs in Innsbruck, Austria Thursday, Group E:
Norway – Slovenia 33-26
Goal Norway: Henny Ella Reistad 9, Stine Ruscetta Skogrand 5, Emilie Margrethe Hovden 5, Thale Rushfeldt Deila 4, Kari Brattset Dale 3, Sanna Solberg-Isaksen 3, Maren Nyland Aardahl 2, Camilla Herrem 2.
Top scorer Slovenia: Tjasa Stanko 7.
Expulsions: Norway 4 x 2 min, Slovenia 4 x 2 min.
The teams:
Norway: Katrine Lunde, Eli Marie Raasok, Silje Solberg-Østhassel, Stine Skogrand, Kristine Breistøl, Anniken Obaidli, Henny Ella Reistad, Thale Rushfeldt Deila, Live Rushfeldt Deila, Ingvild Bakkerud, Marit Røsberg Jacobsen, Emilie Hovden, Sanna Solberg-Isaksen, Maren Aardahl , Kari Brattset Dale, Ane Høgseth, Camilla Herrem.
Slovenia: Dijana Dajic, Maja Vojnovic, Nusa Fegic, Ana Abina, Spela Bajc, Ivona Barukcic, Blazka Hauptman, Erin Novak, Tea Pogorelc, Tjasa Stanko, Ziva Copi, Elena Erceg, Ema Markovic, Manca Juric, Natasa Ljepoja, Lana Puncer, Ema Abina, Maja Svetik.
Judges: Yann Carmaux and Julien Mursch, France.
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