In an evenly contested first half, the teams entered the locker room tied at 13–13. Much of Norway’s perseverance can be attributed to goalkeeper Torbjørn Bergerud, who made an impressive eleven saves in the opening 30 minutes.
However, the tide turned after the break. Denmark surged ahead, establishing a five-goal lead at 21-16 just ten minutes into the second half. “It was the initial stretch of the second half that derailed what could have been a significant turnaround for Norway,” remarked TV 2 commentator Harald Bredeli.
“It was a journey from heaven to hell for Norway.” Ultimately, the world-class team from Denmark secured a decisive 34–26 victory in what marked Norway’s first of two warm-up games ahead of the European Championship.
“We fell short defensively, missed too many attacking opportunities, and squandered possessions,” summed up TV 2 handball expert Bent Svele. “The gap in performance during that crucial segment was staggering.” His disappointment was evident: “The first quarter of the second half was disheartening to watch. I’m genuinely worried about our ability to allow such a margin against a team like Denmark.”
Reflecting on the game, Sander Sagosen noted, “We managed to hold our ground for a while, but let’s face it, we were overpowered. We missed far too many chances, myself included. We’ll head home and get back to work.”
National team manager Jonas Wille echoed this sentiment following the eight-goal defeat. “The opening segment of the second half was certainly a rough patch. However, it’s crucial we focus on the positives and learn from this experience,” he stated, adding, “We refuse to let a single poor game define us.”
“We will not be discouraged by a setback like this. It’s crucial for us to stay positive,” Wille concluded.
Looking ahead, Norway will face the Netherlands in their second and final warm-up match for the European Championship this Saturday. Fans can catch the action live on TV 2 Direkte and Play.
