Norway
Kari Dale, Camilla Herrem, Sanna Solberg-Isaksen and Veronica Kristiansen are four of the players missing from Norway’s team at the EHF EURO 2022. For any other team in Europe, this would be the end of a medal challenge – but not for Norway. Thorir Hergeirsson’s side looks in top form ahead of the start of the competition, which will see the reigning champions feature in group A against Hungary, Croatia and Switzerland.
The Scandinavian side has an excellent system in place. Whenever a stalwart is missing, other players are ready to replace them. Sure, a starting back line with Nora Mørk, Stine Bredal Oftedal and Henny Reistad will be almost impossible to stop. Yet Norway have constantly found new ways of adapting and getting the best from what they have had at their disposal, with their exceptional talent pool always providing the squad with new faces. Kristina Sirum Novak and Sunniva Næs Andersen will make their debuts at the EHF EURO, but Norway still look like the team to beat, irrespective of their absences.
Experience might be their greatest asset, though, as Katrine Lunde and Stine Bredal Oftedal have both won more than 10 medals at major tournaments. In fact, Lunde has 16 medals from the EHF EURO, Olympic Games and IHF World Championship, while Oftedal has won 11 medals.
It also has something to do with the stability of the coaching staff, as coach Thorir Hergeirsson has been in place since 2009 and his position has never been threatened. Hergeirsson’s experience is second to none in this type of competition, as he has overseen the team win 13 medals in 16 major tournaments since his appointment.
With a strong system in place, which relies heavily on defence and converting fast breaks, Norway will try to use the same recipe at the EHF EURO 2022. When the roster crisis hit for Hergeirsson, the coach was prepared and knew exactly how he would navigate the problems before the start of the EHF EURO 2022.
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# | Player | MP | Goals | Shots | % | 7m | YC | RC | 2 Min | TP |
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# | Goalkeeper | MP | Saves | Shots | % | 7m |
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EHF competition history
European Championship
2022 - Champion
EURO CUP
2022 - Champion
European Championship
2020 - Champion
ECh Beach Handball
2017 - Champion
European Championship
2016 - Champion
ECh Beach Handball
2015 - 2nd place
European Championship
2014 - Champion
ECh Beach Handball
2013 - 3rd place
European Championship
2012 - 2nd place
European Championship
2010 - Champion
ECh Beach Handball
2009 - 2nd place
European Championship
2008 - Champion
ECh Beach Handball
2007 - 3rd place
European Championship
2006 - Champion
European Championship
2004 - Champion
European Championship
2002 - 2nd place
Olympic Games
2000 - 3rd place
World Championship
1999 - Champion
European Championship
1998 - Champion
World Championship
1997 - 2nd place
European Championship
1996 - 2nd place
European Championship
1994 - 3rd place
Key Players
goalkeeper
current club: Vipers Kristiansand since 2017
The 2019 CL All-star goalkeeper played alongside twin sister Kristine for hometown club Vipers until they moved together in 2004 to play for Aalborg
- With a storied career behind her including spells with Viborg, Györ and Rostov-Don, she is one of the four women with six CL titles
- Returned to Vipers in 2017 and is still considered a top-class goalkeeper at the age of 42
- Having played 52 EHF EURO matches, she will beat Siraba Dembele Pavlovic's record as the player with the most ECh caps if she features five times at the EHF EURO 2022
- Named All-star goalkeeper of the EHF EURO in 2008, 2010 and 2012, WCh in 2017 and OG in 2008 and 2020
EHF EURO: G 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2020, S 2002, 2012; WCh: G 2011, 2021, S 2007, 2017, B 2009; OG: G 2008, 2012, B 2016, 2020
EC trophies: CL 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2021, 2022; EHF Cup 2017
right back
current club: Team Esbjerg since 2022
- Is the second-best scorer for Norway at the EHF EURO, with 169 goals, and is only 22 goals shy of beating the record held by right wing Linn-Kristin Riegelhuth Koren
- Has scored the most goals of any active player for Norway – 761 – and is the eighth all-time top scorer for the Scandinavian side
- Is the only player who has been the top goalscorer at the EHF EURO twice, in 2016 and 2020, and was also the All-star right back in 2014, 2016 and 2020
- Has won the CL with three of her former clubs: Larvik, Györ and Vipers
- Hampered by terrible luck with injuries throughout her career, Mørk had another injury scare before the start of the EHF EURO 2022 – but was declared fit to play
EHF EURO: G 2010, 2014, 2016, 2020; WCh: G 2015, 2021, S 2017; OG: B 2016, 2020
EC trophies: CL 2011, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022
Head Coach
coach
current club: none
- A former player, started his coaching career after moving to Norway in 1986, leading Elverum, Gjerpen and Naerbo, before being part of Norway's coaching team since 2001
- A former assistant for Marit Breivik, he took over as a coach in April 2009 and presided over one of the most successful eras for the Scandinavian side
- Is one of the most decorated coaches in history, winning 13 medals in major tournaments, with titles at the EHF EURO, WCh and OG
- Has won five EHF EURO medals as Norway’s coach, including four gold medals
- His brother, Grimur, is also a former handball player and is a coach
International medals as a coach: EHF EURO: G 2010, 2014, 2016; 2020, S 2012; WCh: G 2011, 2015, 2021, S 2017, B 2009; OG: G 2012, B 2016, 2020