The Spanish handball team falls apart in Oslo against Norway

The Spanish handball team makes it difficult to reach the quarterfinals of the World Cup after losing to Norway (25-24), the host, in Oslo in the first match of the Main Round. The Hispanics did not know how to take advantage of the tie between Sweden and Portugal and lost a match that they had won until the last five minutes. A total disconnection in defense condemned them in a match that they had dominated despite not having great advantages on the scoreboard. The national team will play for the pass in the last two games against Portugal (Friday, 3:30 p.m.) and Brazil (Sunday, 6:00 p.m.).

The team led by Jordi Ribera began the match much more focused on defense than in the previous match against Sweden. During the first 30 minutes, the Hispanics were very solid, being superior to the Norwegians. The hosts, despite having a better day than in the preliminary phase matches, when they lost two of their three matches, were only ahead by a point on one occasion. The Spanish defensive barrier denied the Norwegian success even in the two situations of superiority they had. Especially in the last 10 minutes, when they only scored one goal.

In attack, the Dujshebaev brothers led the offensive in the first half with their scores – four from Alex and three from Dani –, accompanied by a successful Imanol Garciandia, who scored his three shots. Despite going into the break leading by three, the Hispanics were able to increase the cushion, but the lack of success up front and the incredible performance of the Norwegian goalkeeper, Bergerud, meant that the team could not escape on the scoreboard at the break.

The second half started a little differently with the Spaniards much finer in attack, but a little more lost in defense. Jordi Ribera’s men managed to put themselves five goals ahead in the first nine minutes, but that disconnection at the back increased to the point that the Spanish coach had to call a time-out with 10 minutes remaining because the Norwegians got within one goal.

He pressed the Unity Arena to encourage his team and it had its effect. Grondahl and Sagosen took the reins of the Norwegian team and the host took the lead with five minutes left with a 6-1 run. Spain was falling apart in Oslo and Jordi Ribera had to call on his team again to change the situation in the last four minutes. The Hispanics tried to react, but Norway knew how to hold on and took the victory. In the other two group games, Sweden and Portugal tied (37-37) and Brazil defeated Chile (28-24).

Norway, 25 – Spain, 24

Norway: Bergerud (P); Bjornsen (3), Rod (3), Overby (-), O’Sullivan (-), Sagosen (4) and Barthold (1) -starting team-, Kristensen (ps), Aga (-), Matic (-) , Tonnesen (-), Gullerud (2), Grondahl (7, 2p), Lien (-), Pedersen (2) and Lyse (3).

Spain: Pérez de Vargas (1); Carlos Álvarez (-), Alex Dujshebaev (4), Casado (-), Dani Dujshebaev (5), Dani Fernández (1) and Javi Rodríguez (2) -starting team-, Sergey Hernández (ps), Gurri (-), Tarrafeta (1), Solé (3, 1p), Petar Cikusa (-), Garciandia (6), Serdio (-), Sánchez-Migallón (-) and Barrufet (1).

Marker every five minutes: 2-3, 6-5, 7-7, 9-11, 10-11 and 10-13 (Rest) 12-14, 14-18, 18-20, 21-22, 23-22 and 25-24.

Referees: Amar Konjicanin and Dino Konjicanin (BIH). They excluded Sagosen (2) for Norway for two minutes; and Barrufet and Alex Dujshebaev for Spain.

Incidents: Match corresponding to the first day of group III of the second phase of the World Cup between Croatia, Denmark and Norway played at the Unity Arena in Oslo.