12 months after they recorded an historic fourth-place finish at the EHF EURO 2016, Norway have made sure the handball world knows they are a team to watch by qualifying for their first ever IHF Men’s World Championship Semi-final. The rank of fourth at the 2016 European championship is Norway’s best at any international competition, and they therefore look toward the final stage of the 25th IHF Men’s World Championship with the chance to claim their first ever medal. 

Norway will take to the court for the semi-final against Croatia, against whom they have a somewhat painful recent history, as they lost both the bronze-medal match at the EHF EURO 2016 and the deciding game at Olympic Qualification Tournament III to the ‘Cowboys’. 

As the Scandinavian side prepared for their semi-final clash, ihf.info spoke with left wing Magnus Jondal, who is one of Norway’s biggest threats with 25 goals at an impressive 83 per cent – and only five missed shots from his position – so far at France 2017. 

ihf.info: Congratulations on reaching the semi-finals. What is the feeling in the team like right now? 

Magnus Jondal: “We are really happy and really excited for the semi-final. We are very happy to be here in Paris and compete for a medal.”

ihf.info: You have a lot of experience against Croatia, particularly in the last 12 months. What do you think about them as an opponent? 

Magnus Jondal: “They are a really tough opponent, they are a really good team. We have lost now two important games [against them], so we really want to beat them this time. It will be a tough match, but if we are playing our best and running a lot of fast breaks, then we have a good chance I think.”

ihf.info: Considering your style of play favouring counter attacks, as well as how much the Croatian wings like Zlatko Horvat and Manuel Strlek like to run, do you think it will be a high-scoring game? 

Magnus Jondal: “I think so – of course it depends on how the goalkeepers are doing, but we have to run every time if we are going to beat them, so it’s possible there will be a lot of goals.”

ihf.info: Naturally the focus is on this World Championship, but do you have something in the back of your minds about how this is an historic opportunity to claim the first medal at a major international tournament? 

Magnus Jondal: “Of course, last year we were also in the semi-final but that was our first time ever. We were maybe a little bit happy just to get there, and this year we really want that medal so we are really excited and ready to fight for it.”

ihf.info: Your team play Championships very well. Last year at the EHF EURO you were clearly riding a positive wave all the way to the medal matches, and here in France has been the same. Is there something special you are doing? 

Magnus Jondal: “We are preparing very well for each game, we are staying together for one month [prior to the World Championship], we have a really good connection in the team. Everybody is happy. It helps on the court if you are happy outside. It’s a little bit of everything – we are preparing well, we are in good shape so we are able to run the whole Championship, and because we have a good team chemistry.”