– There will be some heavy nights
GDANSK (VG) (Norway-Spain 34–35 eeo) Norway lost the WC semi-final in the last second of regular play. After four extra rounds, the handball boys lost their biggest thriller in history.
1 out of 7Photo: Stian Lysberg Solum / NTB
– Of course I feel that I am a scapegoat here. It was that situation that destroyed, that situation that meant that it didn’t go to the semis, says Kristian Bjørnsen to VG and other print media.
Nine-goal scorer Bjørnsen missed his tenth and last shot, and Norway lost the unimaginable quarter-final against Spain.
It was also Bjørnsen who was called off for being passive when Norway led with a few seconds left in normal time:
– With the result in hand, I could of course do something else, yes. I’ve been in similar situations in the past, but I don’t feel like I’m in the dark. Then I take the assessment that it is not a passive game to play the ball back, says Bjørnsen to VG and other press.
– It is of course bitter. I would like to do it differently, he says further – and confirms that it is one of his heaviest days.
Norway must play for 5th to 8th place in the World Cup final, instead of the semi-final against Denmark.
– It cannot be more marginal. Completely wild. I feel for the guys, says Viaplay expert Kristian Kjelling.
– Is there so much to say, then? It’s a (handball) war, we’re fighting. Then there is a lack of cynicism and routine which means that we are unable to close the match, says Sandosen to VG.
The veteran Bjørnsen played one of his biggest matches. But was judged for passive play in the last attack of regular time and missed the decisive shot when Norway led. Instead, Spain equalized and secured extra time:
Wille says it’s actually going according to plan – until it went completely wrong:-
– There is a lack of flow. It’s hard for him to know exactly how much time is left, but of course that’s what he’s a little depressed about now.
– I’ve been better, I’ll honestly admit that. I am involved in situations that destroy the team, and it is extremely bitter, says Bjørnsen to Viaplay.
The native of Rogaland is particularly frustrated by the situation where he was called off for being passive in the last seconds of normal time.
– It was terribly ill-judged of me not to take the ball with me further. I am far from in control of the clock. I feel like time is running out when I get the ball, but it didn’t.
– It’s about adjusting to the situation, but it’s always in the back of your mind. You go and get irritated by it. I will be doing that for many weeks and probably several years. Then there is also one at the end where I miss, says Bjørnsen about his other decisive involvement in a negative sense:
– There will be some difficult nights, sums up Bjørnsen, who will hardly be remembered for his big play with nine goals – he himself calls them “meaningless”.
– Bjørnsen is putting up a great fight, I won’t blame him for anything. We are a team that stands together, says Gøran Johannessen to VG.
80 minutes of drama ended with five final minutes. Sebastian Barthold and Tobias Grøndahl sent Norway into two leads, but Angel Fernandez and Joan Canellas ensured an equaliser. Elverum’s Grøndahl found Petter Øverby on the line and Sander Sagosen sent Norway into a new lead. There was a minute left and Norway led 32–31.
But Spain’s Daniel Dujshebaev was tricked into a final equalizer right on the edge of both passive and broken. Grøndahl tried the forearm twice in the last seconds. 32-32 and five minutes to go.
Torbjørn Bergerud waited with another save. Men Magnus Abelvik Rød missed the shot attempt. Spain took the lead, but Kristian Bjørnsen equalized at 33-33 with his ninth of the evening. Before Rød equalized at 34-34 minutes before the end.
Spain had the ball with one minute left. After 79 minutes and 13 seconds, Daniel Dujshebajev scored the decisive goal.
Throw away the win
The quarter-final teetered and swayed 10 minutes before the end, in what became a drama in normal time.
Christian O’Sullivan gave Norway a new lead 25–24 with less than four minutes left to play. Men Gøran Johannessen failed to stop Aleks Dujsjebajev – two minute expulsion.
Kristian Sæverås came in and saved his second free throw of the evening.
Norway was on the verge of being passive and Sagosen went lead-heavy on goal. But Gonzalo Pérez de Vargas saved the last attempt.
Spain got the ball, took a time out, and had 38 seconds to stop Norway’s advancement to the semi-finals.
20 seconds before the end, Bergerud saved that ball from Spain star Aleks Dujsjebajev.
But the referees judged passively when Kristian Bjørnsen played backwards instead of going for goal. Harald Reinkind put the ball down, and Daniel Dujsjebajev equalized at 25-25 in the very last second.
The drama had only just begun.