Norway's “Spain curse” broken: Historic victory over the defending champions

The historic victory means that Norway can manage a draw against Sweden on Tuesday to reach the semifinals of the European Championship – Norway had to win by two goals or more to get such a starting point.

The top three teams stand at six points each before the last round.

– We have not won in almost 25 years against Spain, so we decided to give it our all today , says Harald Reinkind in the match interview after the match.

– It was really fun to play today.

– We really wanted to win this match, he reveals.

The Norwegian team came to Sunday’s match from two straight victories over Poland and Germany, and had gained new confidence after a slightly lame opening at the championship.

– It was crazy fun. The boys fought and fought. And then we got Spain into a track that we have not got them before, says national team coach Christian Berge.

– Good to not have to answer questions about another Spain loss?

– I got a little tired of that question, so it was nice to break that line, Berge admits.

Håndball-EM herrer 2022: Norge - Spania

Erik Toft played another good match.

Photo: Annika Byrde / NTB

Norway opened best

And Norway got off to a terrific start on the fight. The Norwegian boys quickly took the lead, and after a quarter of an hour of play, Norway actually led 9-5 – not least thanks to an excellent Harald Reinkind.

Erik Toft, who impressed with the shotgun against Germany, got also showed himself with some hits against Spain.

The Norwegian team surprised at all by being the best team in parts of the first half and went to the break with a 14-11 lead.

– I think Spain has been exceptionally unconcentrated and made many technical mistakes. We have also been good at punishing them, commented NRK’s ​​handball expert Håvard Tvedten during the break.

Will Norway reach the semifinals?

19 matches without a win

Spain is the title defender in the European Championships, and has not lost a European Championship match since January 23, 2018.

Then it was defeat against Slovenia on the way to Spanish gold. The Spaniards won the European Championships both in 2018 and 2020.

And Norway has not had a good history against the Spanish champions.

The Norwegian team had did not win a single match over Spain in just over 24 years (or 8825 days) before Sunday’s European Championship match. Sander Sagosen was then two years old. 18 losses and a draw showed the disappointing statistics before they met in Bratislava.

There were therefore few experts who thought in advance that Norway could actually win this match.

– It can hold if we continue at the same level and manage to do so that the Spaniards continue to make mistakes. It’s only up to the Norwegian players, Tvedten pointed out before the second half.

Held on the initiative

Norway did it.

Spain admittedly got more involved in the match after the break, but Norway still did not let the Spaniards take over the initiative in match. When coach Christian Berge timed out a quarter of an hour before the end, the team led 22-19.

And when the referee blew off the match, the players could cheer. They had finally beaten Spain. On the scoreboard it was 27-23.

– Fantastic. We’re fighting. This is a real team winner, says Sebastian Barthold to TV3.

He claims that the players have not thought so much about the gloomy loss statistics the team has had against Spain.

– We have not thought about it as much as you. We said before the match that we should show how hungry we are. We should dare to want to win, says Barthold, who is a new dad.

– You do not know what it is like until you stand with a newborn girl in your arms. The only thing you want is to protect her and make sure she is well. I’m looking forward to coming home to the beautiful little girl, he says.

The Spaniards made several mistakes, says NRK’s ​​handball expert Håvard Tvedten.

Photo: Annika Byrde / NTB

The neighbor duel between Norway and Sweden on Tuesday will probably send one of the teams to the semifinals. Spain meets group jumbo Poland in their last match and will after all sun marks win that match.

But it is the two best teams in the group that go on, and nothing is finally decided. Germany is without a chance to advance to the semifinals. The same goes for Russia.

Earlier in the evening, Poland and Russia played 29-29. Germany – Sweden ended with a victory for the Swedes 25-21.

Semifinals, match for 5th place and final and bronze match will be played in Budapest this weekend.

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