After the failure of missing out on the last Olympic Games via the qualification tournament pathway back in 2016, Norway started in the best possible way in 2021, easily defeating Brazil by 12 in their opening match of the Tokyo Handball Qualification 2020 in Montenegro.

TOURNAMENT 1
Norway vs Brazil 32:20 (17:12)

Hosts of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games Brazil could not inflict any damage to Norway as the South Americans were unable to find a way past the European defence or stop the European attack.
 
Rogerio Moraes helped Norway settle early on as the Brazilian was given a two-minute suspension inside the first few minutes as Christian Berge’s Norwegians flowed in attack, something he admitted had been missing from his side at times during the 2021 IHF Men’s World Championship in Egypt.
 
“We talked a lot about our performance in Egypt and we weren’t satisfied with the things we left there,” said Berge. “We wanted to build us up again and I thought we made a really good match today, both defensively and offensively.”
 
And they were, but an early Norwegian lead (9:6, 15th minute), was snuffed out by Brazil as the whole squad united on the bench in celebration after left wing Felipe Borges equalised (9:9 17th minute).
 
The Brazil bench was a hive of activity early on as coach Marcus Oliveira – in his first ‘in person’ match in charge of the side after missing Egypt 2021 due to COVID-19 – and his players worked out the routine of interchange from the sidelines in transition.
 
“Calma” was the call from Oliveira to his troops as they aimed to stay in touch, and by the 20th-minute they were looking good (10:10). They could have even gone ahead soon after but turned over the ball and Norway – complete with a grimacing Harald Reinkind, after the right back had slammed to the floor after putting his side 14:11 ahead – pulled in front further and further.
 
A Norwegian scoring run against the Brazilians could not be stemmed by a time out or an aggressive 3-3 defence, complete with Thiagus Petrus in his 150th appearance for his country after returning to the team after missing Egypt 2021 due to COVID-19 too shouting instructions from the bench.
 
Norway’s defensive shield stood strong leaving Oliveira and his three assistants deep in conversation at half-time before heading into the locker room to discuss how best to mount a second half comeback form five goals down (12:17). One of the first actions they made was to replace goalkeeper Cesar Almeida – with just three first half saves – with Rangel da Rosa.
 
But the new shotstopper could not prevent Berge’s side extending their lead in the second period and the coach even afforded himself a squad rotation, bringing Alexandre Blonz, complete with heavy strapping on his left knee, on in the 45th minute as well as Kevin Gulliksen, and later Magnus Frederiksen for their first minutes.
 
“We started the game very seriously and kept the result for the first 20 minutes, but then we didn’t attack so good and gave them so many fast-breaks,” said Petrus after the game. “The second half was more of the same but the key – and game – for me was that their defence played really good and they could score easy goals.”
 
Norwegian goalkeeper Torbjorn Bergerud ended with 17 saves (59%) and he and his side will go into their clash against Chile full of confidence and positive energy.

Photo: Stefan Ivanovic/RSCG