Olympic champions Norway qualified for the quarter-finals of the 2025 IHF Women’s World Championship, without playing a single minute on Friday (5 December) after Brazil defeated Angola in the opening game of the day.

But when they did take to the court, they were in blistering form as they made it five wins from five in Germany.

Main Round, Group IV
Czechia vs Norway 14:37 (8:18)

The experienced pair of Nora Mork and Veronica Kristiansen both made their 200th appearances for Norway at the Westfalenhalle in a game which highlighted all the strengths of the European champions.

Goalkeeper Katrine Lunde was again rested with Eli Marie Rassok taking up the reins for the whole game, ending the first half with eight and the game with 16 (55%).

But this game was over as a contest early on as Czechia – themselves with a goalkeeper change, Patricie Wizurova playing just her second game of the championship in the place of first-choice Sabrina Novotna who returned home, injured.

The gulf in class was evident early on as Czechia did not have solutions past a determined, physical Norwegian defence, only scoring their fifth goal by the 18th minute but, by that time, they were already six behind (11:5).

And after that, their scoring almost completely dried up as Norway shut up shot, out-scored 10:2 from the 21st-35th minute, a 14-minute run which put the game to bed and allowed Norwegian coach Ole Gustav Gjekstad to rotate his team – one which had started at full-strength on court.

With goals coming from all over the court, the Norwegians were a joy to watch and their dominance was, perhaps, best evidenced with their perfect fast-break record – a ruthless 10 out of 10.

hummel Player of the Match: Eli Marie Rassok (Norway)