Coach: Christian Berge
Key players: Sander Sagosen (Centre
back), Bjarte Myrhol (Line player), Torbjorn Bergerud (Goalkeeper)
Qualification information: Winner of
European qualification play-off versus Switzerland
History in tournament: 1938: DNQ, 1958:
DNQ, 1958: 6th, 1961: 7th, 1964: 11th, 1967: 13th, 1970: 13th, 1974-1990: DNQ,
1993: 13th, 1995: DNQ, 1997: 12th, 1999: 13th, 2001: 14th, 2003: DNQ, 2005:
7th, 2007: 13th, 2009: 9th, 2011: 9th, 2013-15: DNQ, 2017: 2nd
After fighting to break into the top-ranking
positions at major international events throughout their history, the Norway
men’s national team finally experienced their first big success in 2016 when
they qualified for the European championship semi-finals – and since then the
Scandinavian squad have been considered an ever-present danger to the medals.
They do not boast France’s long-standing experience in crunch matches or the
consistency that comes with such a background, but Norway certainly travel to
GER/DEN 2019 in a prime position to reach the podium.
The previous World Championship, France 2017,
was an historic one for Norway’s men, as it saw them claim their first medal
ever at a major international event. The silver medal following an exciting
final against France was a remarkable improvement for Norway – the squad did
not even qualify for the World Championships in 2013 and 2015, then made it all
the way to the final in 2017. The breakthrough came one year earlier, however,
when Norway reached the semi-finals at the EURO 2016 in what was a significant
upset – it was the first time the team made it to the penultimate stage in any
competition.
Prior to those results, Norway’s best rank at
any event was sixth, achieved at the 1958 World Championship and the EURO 2008
on home ground. It was therefore a long wait for the men’s national team to
begin to experience a shadow of the success enjoyed by the women’s squad – but
that wait now appears to be very much over. Outside of national team
competitions, Norway’s squad have been building on their individual experience
and skills in their respective clubs, which have also become increasingly ‘big
name’ as the players rise to greater heights. The increased individual
abilities and collective experience of what it takes to win on an international
level should mean that Norway will only become more dangerous as time goes on,
particularly considering the young average age of the squad.
The stand-out star for Norway is centre and
left back Sander Sagosen, who has been named in the All-star Team at each of
the three major international championships held since January 2016 – two
EUROs, one World Championship. At just 23, Sagosen is one of the biggest names
in handball, playing for powerhouse Champions League club Paris Saint-Germain
and leading the national team on court. Captain and line player Bjarte Myrhol
also has a key role in a squad where the responsibilities and talent are
otherwise widespread.
At GER/DEN 2019, Norway will open their
campaign with intercontinental encounters versus Tunisia and Saudi Arabia,
before meeting Austria, then taking on Chile. They will face 2016 Olympic
champions Denmark for the last group phase round, in a match that could very
well be the one that decides who tops the group.
Fans can follow Norway on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Group at Germany/Denmark 2019
Group C: Norway, Denmark, Austria, Tunisia, Chile, Saudi Arabia
Games at Germany/Denmark 2019
All times local
Friday 11 January Tunisia vs Norway (20:30)
Saturday 12 January Norway vs Saudi
Arabia (17:30)
Monday 14 January Norway vs
Austria (17:30)
Tuesday 15 January Norway vs Chile (18:30)
Thursday 17 January Denmark vs
Norway (20:15)
IHF
& Germany/Denmark 2019 Official Channels
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Photo: Norwegian Handball Federation