A human right

On Thursday, the pools for the preliminary group stage of the Women’s Handball World Cup 2023 have been decided. The handball girls start the water cycle in Stavanger in Pool C. There they meet South Korea, Austria and Greenland.

The Norwegian girls will defend their world title after winning the 2021 World Cup.

That tournament had to be played without star Steyn Scogrand, who was canceled because she was pregnant. When Norway won the European title the following year, neither Kari Bratest Dale, nor Sanna Solberg Isaksen, nor Camilla Herrem were part of the team. Also because they were expecting children.

On January 12 of this year, national team player Veronica Christiansen said that she would become a mother for the first time. A month later, Silje Solberg was able to share the same good news. Both are in danger of missing the World Cup at home.

A human right

The national team manager, Thorer Hergersson, said on Thursday that he does not see this as a problem, but as a challenge and an opportunity.

– It’s great, in a way, in terms of recruiting future handball players. Two places may open up, and new young players will have the opportunity to show themselves, Hergeirsson tells Dagbladet.

The NRK expert shuddered: – Complete nonsense

However, the Icelander admits he would like the opportunity to use the players he wants.

– All coaches always want to get access to the best players in the tournament. But different reasons mean that not everyone can always contribute, but this is the case, and I find that exciting.

When asked if there was some kind of plan or agreement between the players and the coaches, the answer is clear.

We coaches have nothing to do with it. It is a human right. As a coach, I should only stick to the facts, Hergerson says.

The 59-year-old, who has coached the girls’ handball since 2009, believes they have a good routine with the players and health team about whether they are ready for the tournament.

He believes that players must prove themselves in training and deserve a place in the team no matter what.

– Nobody has a permanent place in the national team anyway, says Hergerson.

Steiler: – Tragic

– Excellence

National team player Kari-Bratst-Dale missed EC at the end of 2022. On November 1, just three days before the start of EU, little Niels was born. As a player, she says pregnancy keeps them on the sidelines longer and that it takes a lot of work to get back in shape.

– It is not always possible to know the exact date of conception. When that happens, you are of course out of that period, and then you have to go back to the same level. But it’s Thorer who has to decide whether you’re good enough or not, Bratst Dale tells Dagbladet.

She can understand that this is a problem for a national team manager.

– It is, of course, a challenge when there are many people who are discharged due to pregnancy at the same time, as is the case now. It must be hard for Thorir to assess that. Especially for those who do not have enough time to show off.

When I spoke to Dagbladet about a potential “championship return”, the back-to-back player looked giddy.

– For my part, I hope above all that I will be removed. It would be great if I could participate again at home. It’s a big dream and one of the greatest things one can experience, she says and adds:

The most powerful death in the world after an accident

The privilege of playing handball after having children.

– The only good thing is winning

Hergerson, as usual, feels the pressure of expectation. The pressure has been there since he became assistant coach to Marit Breivik in 2001. Still, he’s excited about what’s to come in November.

– The only good thing is winning. People trust us and are interested in handball girls. This is very good. We want to fulfill a dream we all have: to win at home.

The three best teams from Group C and the three best teams from Group D advance to the main round in Trondheim.

The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup will be held in Norway, Denmark and Sweden from November 29 to December 17.