WHEN the world’s best handball nation was outplayed in its own Olympics, there is reason to raise an exclamation point regarding the opponent:
- We’re talking about Norway.
Just over half a year ago, the Norwegian team was ridiculed by many handball fans on social media after a disappointing European Championship. In that championship, the first Olympic opportunity slipped away. The guys had to struggle through an extra qualification before heading to Paris.
Now they were right back among the world’s top teams with a five-goal victory against the reigning Olympic champions, in a match where this clear lead was hardly threatened after just fifteen minutes of play.
Much thanks to an effective game plan that locked the larger and heavier French favorites in the Norwegian defense, causing the champions to chase after each time Norway increased the tempo going forward.
For the previously criticized and relatively new national team coach Jonas Wille, it seems he wasn’t so foolish after all.
THE TONE on social media can be ruthless. Like against Wille in January when Norway was eliminated from the European Championship after the weakest result in many years.
At that time, he assured Dagbladet that he did not take this hit personally, but of course he did:
– I experienced what it’s like to be in it, and that the whole nation thought I was an idiot. It is an extreme experience, admitted Wille to Eurosport a few weeks after the fiasco.
France in an uproar: – Catastrophe
BUT he revealed something more in this interview that explains how the handball guys were able to directly elevate their level:
- All the blame fell entirely on the national team coach.
Already in the next Olympic qualifier in March, this was a team that impressed foreign handball experts in the two decisive matches against Portugal and Hungary:
– The massive criticism has made me less fearful of criticism. It was like breaking a boil. Once it happened, I became more fearless, said Jonas Wille.
This was evident against France tonight.
– Can’t take it personally
RIGHT from the start, the Norwegian boys pressured the French favorites, causing them to make mistakes. At times, it seemed too fast for Norway as well, but in sum, there was no doubt regarding which team could withstand the most speed.
In handball, this is a very good sign. Just like the Norwegian handball girls started dominating the sport a decade ago by employing a consistently higher tempo, the speed has helped the boys get closer to the world top.
VICTORY: Sander Sagosen challenges the French goalkeeper veteran Vincent Gérard. Photo; Bjørn Langsem / Dagbladet
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So far, the performance elsewhere has not been consistent enough to establish ourselves there. A group match early in the Olympics does not provide cause to assert that we are talking about a so strong performance, but the direction is unmistakable.
Jonas Wille has managed to renew this team with some skills that promise well.
Against French fans: – Never do that
THEN we move right over to Tobias Grøndahl; the new 23-year-old player with footwork that largely decided the match against much taller and significantly heavier French opponents early in the first half.
First, he elegantly set up a couple of goals with Sander Sagosen, the former world number one who has carried this national team in championship after championship. Then Sagosen got some rest, and Grøndahl showed what he can achieve with both his quick feet and his equally sharp handball mind.
Right there, a new Norwegian star took the stage.
THE PATH there has literally been tough for Tobias Grøndahl. During his training period in the Norwegian top handball environment in Elverum, a quite slender Tobias had to eat his way up several weight classes to achieve a nearly normal weight for a back player in handball.
Now it is easy to see that the recipe for the health professional’s carefully managed weight adjustment was good:
- By being 16 kilos heavier, Grøndahl has undoubtedly retained the crucial speed and agility.
Just ask a bunch of French defenders.
To the Olympics: – Insanely big
THAT same quickness characterizes the two contemporaries who outran France. Both Simen Lyse from the back position and left winger Alexander Blonz had their international breakthroughs in this Olympic feat.
This helped in a wonderful game where goalkeeper Kristian Sæverås performed brilliantly, and the whole team stood firm in every single duel in front of him.
In terms of results, Norwegian men’s handball has never performed better in an Olympic match. After the French champions were crushed by Denmark in the opening game, it was expected that they would strike back hard on home soil. After all, it has been mostly the duo of France/Denmark that this sport has revolved around in recent years.
The fact that Norway still managed to stop this revenge is simply formidable, and it is built on the best in Norwegian sports leadership.
Namely, a knowledgeable, honest, and credible coach who bravely uses adversity to make his team significantly better.
No wonder that abroad is impressed by what Jonas Wille has achieved.
Praise abroad