During an action-packed weekend of handball in the Trondheim Spektrum in Norway, four of the top European men’s sides clashed in the friendly Gjensidige Cup tournament, which served as the first stage for the new season of the Golden League.

Reigning world champions Denmark, reigning Olympic champions France, Norway and the Netherlands clashed in a three-day tournament, with Denmark clinching the laurels, after securing three wins against their opponents.

The first day of the tournament, scheduled for Thursday, 4 November, saw Denmark take on Norway, in a rematch of their quarter-final game at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 last August.

Denmark took the win that time (31:25) and doubled down in the Gjensidige Cup, with another dominating performance, 31:28. It was not a game taken easily by the Norwegian side, who had an impressing performance from left back Sander Sagosen, who scored 11 goals. 

Sagosen, who will make his comeback in the Norwegian league for Kolstad in 2023, was virtually unstoppable, missing only four shots throughout the game, but an undermanned Denmark, who could not count on the MVP of the last IHF Men’s World Championship, Mikkel Hansen, still took the win, courtesy of a seven-goal outing from left wing Emil Jakobsen.

Denmark avenge Olympic final loss

On Saturday, France entered the fray, in a rematch of the Tokyo 2020 final against Denmark.

With plenty of new players in the two sides, Denmark avenged their painful loss, with another flawless outing from Jakobsen, who converted all his 10 shots, paving the way for another impressive win, 31:26. France’s top scorer was back Elohim Prandi, with five goals, seconded by Barça back Timothey N’Guessan and Lomza Vive Kielce’s right wing Dylan Nahi, who scored four goals each.

It was a comprehensive win for Denmark, who allowed France to score the first goal and then never relinquish the lead, in a victory that paved their way to winning the tournament.

Norway also secured their only win in the tournament on Saturday, when they put on a show for their fans against the Netherlands, cruising to a 40:29 win.

Sagosen did not steal the show, after being rested by coach Christian Berge, but young guns Simen Holand Pettersen and Alexander Blonz shone, by combining for 17 goals in the match.

France take second place with clear win against Norway

The Danish side exerted their superiority against the Netherlands in the last game on Sunday, taking another clear win (33:19) on their way to securing the first place in the group, after beating all their opponents.

Coach Nikolaj Jacobsen made sure that all his players got meaningful time on the court, with Johan Hansen, Niclas Kirkeløkke, Hans Aaron Mensing and Jacob Holm earning the top scorer plaudits in the game, with four goals each.

In the last game of the group, hosts Norway dropped their second game in four days (25:31), against France. 

Once again without Sagosen, the young Norwegian side stood no chance against the more experienced France side, who took the lead early on and never relinquished it.

20-year-old line player Theo Monar, who is plying his trade for HBC Nantes, was the reigning Olympic champion’s top scorer, with six goals, in one of the first meaningful caps for the French national team.

The second stage of the Golden League will take place in Paris in January, just before the start of the Men’s EHF EURO 2022, with France, Denmark, Norway and Egypt taking part.

The third stage of the friendly competition is due to take place in March in Denmark, with the hosts, Norway and another team due to be invited.

Photos: Annika Byrde / NTB