Norway (NOR)
Ask handball fans around the world who their top three gold favourites for the Women’s EHF EURO 2024 are, and Norway will be missing from hardly any list. The defending champions have a dazzling track record in the competition and could now win their record-extending 10th title. Norway have won four of the last five EHF EURO trophies — a series only interrupted by a rare early exit from the title race in 2018, when they finished fifth. They won their third Olympic gold medal in 2024, while only a final defeat against France at the IHF World Championship a year ago denied them the chance to get hold of all three major titles in women’s national team handball again.
Norway’s hunger, though, never seems satisfied. And if they need any additional motivation this time around, they can easily find it in the departure of their long-term head coach Thorir Hergeirsson, who steps down from his role after the EHF EURO, ending a 15-year, highly successful tenure with the team. Anything less than another gold medal as a farewell gift to the coach would not satisfy the title holders.
While Norway will face a significant change after the EHF EURO, they have also had to make adaptions in the build-up to the tournament due to the absence of several key players. Centre back Stine Oftedal retired after winning gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics, and right back Nora Mørk, the EHF EURO 2022 top scorer, will miss the championship due to pregnancy. But Norway’s squad is deep enough with excellent back-up options for all court positions, which has been one of their core strengths throughout the years. However, do not expect any changes between the posts, as 44-year-old goalkeeper Katrine Lunde — already the all-time record holder with six titles — is still going strong and eyeing her seventh EHF EURO crown.
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| # | Player | MP | Goals | Shots | % | 7m | YC | RC | 2 Min | TP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| TOTAL | {{totalGoals}} | {{totalShots}} | {{totalShotsEfficiency}} | {{total7mGoals}}/{{total7mShots}} | {{totalWarnings}} | {{totalDisqualifications}} | {{totalTwoMinPenalties}} |
| # | Goalkeeper | MP | Saves | Shots | % | 7m |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| TOTAL | {{totalSaves}} | {{totalShotReceives}} | {{totalSaveEfficiency}} | {{total7mSaves}}/{{total7mShotsReceives}} |
23
31
22
30
24
40
32
27
21
31
24
27
15
38
38
24
33
26
EHF Competition History
Denmark
23
Norway
31
Hungary
22
Norway
30
Switzerland
24
Norway
40
Norway
32
Germany
27
Netherlands
21
Norway
31
Denmark
24
Norway
27
Slovakia
15
Norway
38
Norway
38
Austria
24
Norway
33
Slovenia
26
Denmark
25
Norway
27
Norway
28
France
20
Norway
29
Denmark
31
Norway
26
Slovenia
23
Norway
27
Sweden
25
Norway
32
Hungary
22
Switzerland
21
Norway
38
Norway
32
Croatia
23
France
20
Norway
22
Norway
27
Denmark
24
Hungary
21
Norway
32
Croatia
25
Norway
36
Netherlands
25
Norway
32
Romania
20
Norway
28
Germany
23
Norway
42
Norway
35
Poland
22
Sweden
29
Norway
38
Spain
26
Norway
33
Netherlands
16
Norway
29
Hungary
25
Norway
38
Norway
23
Romania
31
Czech Republic
17
Norway
31
Norway
32
Germany
33
Netherlands
29
Norway
30
France
16
Norway
20
Czech Republic
24
Norway
35
Hungary
23
Norway
24
Denmark
20
Norway
22
Norway
23
Russia
21
Croatia
16
Norway
34
Norway
23
Romania
21
Norway
28
Spain
25
Norway
29
Sweden
25
Hungary
29
Norway
25
Poland
24
Norway
26
Spain
26
Norway
29
Norway
27
Denmark
21
Ukraine
23
Norway
34
Norway
27
Romania
19
Norway
31
Montenegro
34
Norway
30
Hungary
19
Norway
33
Denmark
35
Norway
28
Sweden
25
Norway
30
France
19
Norway
18
Ukraine
17
Czech Republic
19
Norway
21
Norway
28
Serbia
26
Norway
25
Sweden
20
Denmark
19
Norway
29
Netherlands
13
Norway
35
Ukraine
19
Norway
32
Sweden
24
Norway
19
Norway
34
Hungary
13
Slovenia
16
Norway
32
Norway
33
France
22
Norway
34
Spain
21
Norway
24
Russia
18
Romania
31
Norway
37
Hungary
20
Norway
34
Denmark
19
Norway
31
Norway
34
Portugal
19
Ukraine
20
Norway
33
Norway
21
Spain
21
Norway
27
Russia
24
Norway
28
France
24
Hungary
31
Norway
34
Fyro Macedonia
13
Norway
28
Austria
24
Norway
39
Norway
27
Germany
22
Poland
21
Norway
32
Norway
43
Slovenia
20
Norway
27
Denmark
25
Norway
44
Hungary
29
Norway
41
Slovenia
18
Norway
39
Serbia and Montenegro
24
Norway
25
Russia
24
Norway
30
Czechia
22
Spain
25
Norway
26
Norway
27
Ukraine
24
Denmark
25
Norway
22
France
16
Norway
21
Norway
24
Hungary
23
Norway
34
Slovenia
24
Norway
27
Czechia
20
Russia
18
Norway
24
Germany
18
Norway
26
Norway
25
Spain
25
France
24
Norway
25
Austria
18
Norway
30
Norway
24
Hungary
21
Ukraine
19
Norway
24
Norway
22
Poland
19
Netherlands
24
Norway
18
Norway
38
Australia
11
Norway
29
Belarus
13
Czechia
21
Norway
30
Norway
20
Denmark
33
Germany
23
Norway
25
Korea
21
Norway
27
Austria
18
Norway
24
Norway
22
Croatia
25
France
19
Norway
23
Norway
44
Uzbekistan
13
Canada
15
Norway
32
Norway
34
Belarus
21
Hungary
22
Norway
21
Norway
24
Denmark
25
Norway
21
Rumania
19
Slovakia
21
Norway
32
Sweden
15
Norway
26
Norway
23
Austria
24
Côte Ivoire
7
Norway
32
Norway
26
Japan
18
ECh Beach Handball
2025 - 2nd place
European Championship
2024 - Champion
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
- legend of the game, a world-class goalkeeper in her 40s and the most-capped player in Norwegian national team history with more 350 games
- named MVP of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, became the sole record holder in handball for most medals at the Olympics — five
- six-time EHF EURO and two-time world champion with Norway
- record seven-time EHF Champions League Women winner with Viborg, Györ (twice each), and Vipers (three times)
- named MVP and best goalkeeper of 2022/23 season at the first EHF Excellence Awards in 2023
- star playmaker, who is approaching the 400-goal mark for Norway after making her national team debut in 2018
- was named MVP of the EHF EURO 2022 where Norway won their record ninth title
- in 2023, set a Norwegian record for scoring the most goals in a single world championship match: 15 in the semi-final against Denmark (29:28)
- arrived at Esbjerg in 2021, after winning the EHF Champions League Women with Vipers Kristiansand and being named MVP of the EHF FINAL4
- scored a stunning total of 142 goals for Team Esbjerg in the EHF Champions League 2022/23 season
- was awarded the IHF World Player of the Year title in 2023
Head Coach
- one of the most decorated handball coaches, going into his final tournament at Norway’s helm before stepping down
- been involved in Norway’s coaching staff since 2001, took over as head coach in 2009
- has won six EHF EURO medals as Norway’s coach, including five gold
- a former player with Selfoss, who started his coaching career in 1986, leading Elverum, Gjerpen, and Nærbø
- his brother, Grimur, is also a former handball player and a coach