The World Cup drama lives on after Norway messed up the victory against Sweden – Dagsavisen
The result means that the Netherlands and Norway have seven points, while Sweden stands at six. This means that everything is in the pot also for the Norwegian team on Monday against the Dutch. Victory gives first place. Pressure can mean returning home.
Thorir: A fair result
Sweden meets a weaker opponent (Romania) the same day and is likely to win its match. The two best from the pool get quarter-final games, the three is knocked out.
In the event of a tie, the goal difference counts for separating the teams. And the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden can all end up with eight points.
After the match, many handball experts were critical of Norway not taking a timeout towards the end.
– It is the coach who decides, but it could certainly have been an idea with a timeout, Kari Brattset Dale told NTB about the discussion.
– It is always dangerous to be categorical right after a match, but it was a “fair” result. The Swedes fought well and stopped us in parts of our game in important periods. They were allowed to play very physically, national team manager Thorir Hergeirsson told TV3.
– We should have decided this match, so it feels a bit like a loss to play a draw. We did not deserve both points, he added.
[ Slik sikrer Norge VM-avansement mot Sverige ]
Mixture
Mørk delivered a brilliant second half where Norway fought back after giving away a clear lead, but it ended in a draw.
The neighbor duel was at times the World Cup’s best match so far. Brattset Dale scored just before the break, when Norway played in the minority after a Dark expulsion, and secured a Norwegian 14-12 lead at the break.
The way this was a mix of sweet and sour. Norway threw away several attacks, and the high pace of the match required their offers on both teams with technical errors and boom shots.
Camilla Herrem “stole” the ball in Sweden’s first attack in the second half, also with a Norwegian player less on the field.
Henny Reistad jumped in 15-12 just after. Brattset Dale ordered 16-13.
Tipped
Norway also had some reserves. Neither Mørk nor Stine Bredal Oftedal had scored in the first 38 minutes. The two collaborated when Mørk slipped through the Swedes’ defense and arranged 21-17.
But that lead disappeared in a matter of minutes. The match stood and tilted. Mørk became very central together with Veronica Kristiansen.
Sweden lobbed in 30-30 from the wing a few seconds before the end. – It was a good lobby, but of course I will not go in, said goalkeeper veteran Katrine Lunde to NTB.
– I felt it became very intense and stressful throughout the second half, but it is difficult to say what makes us not close the match. We led with four goals, and then we will be smart enough to manage it, Lunde added.
[ Herrem: – Godt gjort å holde konsentrasjonen oppe ]
Crucial days
Denmark, Germany, Spain, Brazil, the Russian Handball Federation (RHF) and France are already ready for the quarterfinals.
On Tuesday, it will be clear which teams will meet in the first cup round in Granollers. All four quarterfinals are played on Wednesday. Until days later, the semifinals await. The medal matches will take place on Sunday next week.
Then Norway can secure its fourth world championship. So far, there have been Norwegian World Cup titles in 1999 (home ground Lillehammer), 2011 (Brazil) and 2015 (Denmark).
But before that, a fateful battle against the Netherlands awaits.
[ Ny norsk målorgie da Norge knuste Puerto Rico i håndball-VM ]
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Match facts:
Women’s Handball World Cup Round 2 Group 2 in Castellón, Spain Saturday, Round 2:
Sweden – Norway 30-30 (12-14)
Ciutat de Castelló, ca. 1500 spectators
Norway: Silje Solberg, Katrine Lunde – Henny Reistad 4, Emilie Hegh Arntzen 1, Veronica Kristiansen 7, Nora Mørk 4, Stine Bredal Oftedal 2, Malin Aune, Kari Brattset Dale 5, Vilde Ingstad, Moa Högdahl, Marit Røsberg Jacobsen 3, Camilla Herrem 3, Sanna Solberg-Isaksen 1, Kristine Breistøl, Maren Aardahl.
Top scorer Sweden: Nathalie Hagman 9.
Deportations: Sweden 4 x 2 min., Norway 2 x 2 min.
Judges: Maike Merz / Tanja Kuttler, Germany.
Norway meets the Netherlands on Monday.
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