Norway (NOR)

It was the EHF EURO 2016 where Norway saw their breakthrough international championship, as they went from 14th place at the previous edition all the way to the semi-finals. After that fourth place in Poland, Norway secured their first EHF EURO medal in 2020. They ranked fifth in 2022.

Since 2016, Norway have firmly established themselves among the top teams internationally, as they also reached the World Championship final twice in a row, in 2017 and 2019. They were defeated both times, but the first medals were something to celebrate.

Aside from the medals won, Norway also qualified for the Olympic Games for the first time, placing seventh at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

There have been successes, but a while since a piece of silverware — Norway will be eager to improve on their most recent positions and be part of the medal fight again in 2024. The Scandinavian team qualified for this edition of the EHF EURO as winners of their qualifiers group, above Serbia, after a campaign that saw only one loss.

Although the Norway men’s team features a deep bench of world-class backs and lethal wings in particular, there is one standout name associated with the side: attacking juggernaut Sander Sagosen.

Now 28 years old, Sagosen has enough caps to make him one of the most experienced in the side, yet his games played-to-goal ratio is unsurpassed in the current and most squads, with an average of over five goals per match. He was named in the EHF EURO All-star Team three straight times, was top scorer of the EHF EURO in 2020, and adds another three All-star credits when including the EHF Champions League and World Championships. His goal count for 2020, 65, is the record for most goals scored in one EHF EURO.