KRAKOW (VG) (Netherlands – Norway 26–27) Little Dutch gem Luc Stein is damaged. Norway is struggling. But then everything turned around. Norway won after a strong turnaround.

– It’s my job to move on when things go wrong, Sander Sagosen told VG.

He ruled the show in the 2nd half. Magnus Abelvik Rød and Sebastian Barthold scored the last goals. That was enough to win and a maximum of four points for the main draw.

– What a great trip. We are where we should be, said Sagosen.

– The last minute is delicious. Contributing with two goals in the end redeemed me a lot, said Magnus Abelvik Rød.

Now Katowice awaits games against Serbia (Thursday), Qatar (Saturday) and Germany (Tuesday). This provides a good opportunity for Norway’s quarter-final in Gdansk on January 25.

– We fight like heroes through the fight, says Abelvik Rød.

Jonas Wille’s “wheat bread days” as national team manager are definitely over. After seven wins and 83 plus goals, there is an opponent with quality and belief in victory. Led by Steins on the pitch and Swedish Staff Olsson on the bench.

The match started with the Dutch shooting at the head of goal Torbjørn Bergerud, which resulted in the sending off of the Dutch.

However, Norway immediately ran into trouble. Vetle Eck Aga has started in the Norwegian defense in all of the championship games the last two seasons. Now the northerners are placed on the benches. The defense doesn’t work at all.

– It looked a bit bad at first. We tried, tried and tried to seek consulting on the defensive. In the end, we had to use something we weren’t trained for, Jonas Wille told Viaplay.

– It’s also very unbalanced offensively. A bit of nervousness spread. Then you also become indecisive as a coach, “what do we do now?” Wille continued.

PSG star Luc Steins (172 cm) has the upper hand. Norway was beaten by a small playmaker in the first quarter. Bergerud could not hold fire and the Netherlands led 10–7.

– Fantastic to watch. He is insanely talented, said Viaplay expert Kristian Kjelling of Dutch star Steins.

– The best player in the world, who fought alongside us, said the Norwegian Gøran Johannessen.

The Norwegian national team coach praised Steins and Holland, especially impressed with their speed.

– I hope by God we don’t meet a team like them again, Wille said and smiled.

When Steins went 15-9 artistically, it hurt to be a Norwegian in the Tauron Arena.

– It’s Christmas Eve for the man. He’s fine, then. Almost at the limit of what’s going on, reports Kristian Kjelling.

Norway slipped back like a sieve. In the attack faltered worryingly.

It got a little better when Kristian Sæverås got on goal and Gøran Johannessen got into attack. But they couldn’t prevent the Netherlands from leading 17-13 at half-time.

Four goals is far from impossible to turn around in 30 minutes in handball.

The 2nd half started with Sebastian Barthold missing a good chance against Dutch keeper Bart Ravensbergen. The Netherlands immediately scored.

But then came a double score from Barthold and one from Kevin Gulliksen. Before Sagosen started with play by Harald Reinkind and a powerful shot on target. Kevin Gulliksen’s quick feet stung the Dutchman and made it 20-20 on a counter attack 20 minutes from the end.

Gøran Johannessen sent Norway 21-20 ahead. It was the first time since 1-0.

Eck Aga returns as chief of defence. Defensively, Norway is regaining some stability. Christian O’Sullivan and Petter Øverby also contributed in central defence.

Sagosen led 23-21 before Sæverås defended with the best save of the night. But the problem has not yet evaporated. Sagosen missed a penalty 10 minutes from time and the Netherlands held on. Kay Smits of the Netherlands leveled at 23-23 after Steins won a free throw. However, at the last minute, Abelvik Rød sealed victory for Norway.