The back-to-back defending European champions Norway have shown they are in great form just ahead of their campaign to defend their title at the EHF EURO 2018, winning the second leg of the Golden League 2018/19 with a perfect record against their three rivals. The usual nations contesting the Golden League – Norway, France and Denmark – were joined by invited country Hungary for the November leg, played in Norway as the Møbelringen Cup.

 

Norway enjoyed three confident wins over their opponents at the event played from November 22 to 25, starting with a 25:19 victory versus Hungary on day one. In what was her debut with the senior national team, 2018 Junior World Championship All-star centre back Henny Reistad contributed to the final result with a goal for Norway. In the other match on the opening day, world champions France beat Denmark in a low-scoring battle, 22:20 – but it was not the lowest scoring match of the Cup.

 

The face-off between Hungary and France on day two ended with a 19:18 result in favour of the current world champions, while Norway beat Denmark in a match with significantly higher goal count (28:22). On the final day of the Møbelringen Cup, Denmark defeated Hungary 23:16 to secure third place with what was their first win, while Hungary finished fourth after three straight losses.

 

The battle between Norway and France – a rematch of the 2017 World Championship final – to decide the title saw a two-goal win, 23:21, for the Scandinavian hosts. It was the most goals France had allowed any opponent to score over the weekend, showing the quality of their famed defence.

 

All four teams will now complete their final preparations for the EHF EURO 2018 before travelling to France for the beginning of the continental championship on November 29, where Norway will aim to win their third European title in a row.

 

Photo: Vidar Ruud (NTB/Scanpix)