– We’ll see who laughs best in the end, time will tell, says goalkeeper Torbjørn Bergerud with a smile when he tells news about the criticism from the brotherhood. It is for the newspaper Aftonbladet that the Swedish handball player Jim Gottfridsson makes fun of the Norwegian run-up to the EC. Norway played the four-nation Golden League tournament this weekend. There they met Denmark, Egypt and the Netherlands in just four days. In the same period, Sweden plays two matches against the B nation Japan. TOUGH OPPOSITION: Sweden’s Jim Gottfridsson is coming to Norway and Denmark before the European Championships. Photo: ATTILA KISBENEDEK / AFP – I have a lot of Danes on the team in Flensburg, and I can say that they don’t think it’s fun to play in the Golden League. They like the system, but it’s the same opponents all the time and very tough. How much do you get out of always playing these three games?, asks Jim Gottfridsson rhetorically. But the interest in the superpower meeting in the four-nation tournament has in any case been enormous. The draw between Denmark and Norway was played before a sold-out Royal Arena in Copenhagen with 12,500 spectators in the stands. Barcelona pro Jonathan Carlsbogård is not impressed by that. – I prefer our approach. We can stay at home and not travel as much. We can focus on preparing ourselves physically in the gym in accordance with (coach) Rickard Nilsson’s plan to reach top form for the EC. Laughs at the “Swedish poke” STICK: Magnus Abelvik Rød just laughs at the criticism from the Swedish players. Photo: Claus Bech / Ritzau Scanpix / NTB The Norwegian national team players just laugh at the criticism from their Swedish colleagues. – We are very “happy” with the opposition we have here and it is a format we know very well, so the Swedes can keep doing what they are doing. We’ll see who gets the furthest to the end, says Magnus Abelvik Rød. Sebastian Barthold is not afraid that the Norwegian squad will wear themselves out before the championship in Germany. – We have a wide squad, so we get to roll around a bit. There are many who get a break in the individual campaigns, says the 32-year-old to news. JOKER: Simen Lyse is making his championship debut during the EC and was voted Norway’s best player during the match against the Netherlands. Photo: Joakim Halvorsen / NTB Championship debutant Simen Lyse, who was named the best player on the field in the 38–35 victory against the Netherlands on Saturday. Nor does he care about the criticism from “sweet brother.” – I think it’s good that we face such tough opposition, then we know where we have to be when the EC starts. Rauk cruciate ligament in the opening game Viaplay’s Swedish handball expert Martin Frändesjö, on the other hand, believes that the Swedes’ charge is more sensible. – The most important thing is to avoid injuries. I rather think it can be an advantage to only play two games rather than three, and against more modest opposition than, for example, Norway and Denmark do. Norway has experienced injuries. Christoffer Rambo tore the cruciate ligament in his right knee during the match against Denmark and had to go home. Both Abelvik Rød and Gøran Johannessen had to sit out the game against Denmark. Alexander Blonz sat on the bench for two of the games. INJURY: Christoffer Rambo tore his cruciate ligament in the match against Denmark. Photo: Liselotte Sabroe / Ritzau Scanpix / NTB National team coach Jonas Welle agrees to a certain extent with the criticism from Sweden, but says that they are taking necessary precautions. – We don’t top in three games. It’s not possible, and that’s why we rotate a lot in the team. In the match against the Netherlands, star player Sander Sagosen stood over. Harald Reinkind and Petter Øverby did the same. – We take care of the total load. Three matches in four days is a bit much, he admits. It should be said that Sweden has never been invited to participate in the traditional four-nation tournament according to Hanna Fogelström, who is responsible for the national team in the Swedish association. – I don’t think we would have wanted that either, she says to Aftonbladet. Norway meets Poland in its first EC match on Thursday 11 January 20.30. TEK REVIEW: National team coach Jonas Wille admits that three games in four days is a lot. Photo: Claus Bech / Ritzau Scanpix / NTB
ttn-69
– Let’s see who gets the farthest – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
