All-Star Team, Women’s World Championship: These are the players who dominated

The World Championship is over and, as usual, it was Norway who came out on top. But which players were actually the best in each position? Here, GoHandball reporter Ola Selby selects his All-Star Team.

Here is the All-Star Team:

Goalkeeper: Katrine Lunde, Norway

Not only the best goalkeeper of the World Championship, but by far the best goalkeeper of the tournament. At 45 years of age, Lunde continues to prove that she is barely human. And of course, she ended her international career in the best possible way, winning her 13th (!) major championship title.

Left wing: Antje Döll, Germany

Lunde truly proves that age comes with greatness. The 37-year-old Döll is almost young in comparison – but what a World Championship she played. Top three in the scoring charts and a major reason why Germany went all the way to the final.

Pivot: Pauletta Foppa, France

The World Championship didn’t quite turn out the way France had hoped, and they are still searching for an identity after legendary coach Krumbholz stepped down. But Foppa is still the best line player in the world – no debate about it. Even when she plays right back…

Right wing: Lucie Granier, France

I already said it before the World Championship, and during the tournament Granier has only proven my point: she is one of the best, if not the very best, right wing in the world.

Left back: Julie Scaglione, Denmark

Is there room in this team for a player from a nation that was knocked out as early as the quarter-finals? Absolutely. There is room for one, and for me Scaglione was almost an obvious choice. She performed at a very high level in a Denmark side that didn’t quite hold up when it mattered most.

Playmaker: Henny Reistad, Norway

The world’s best handball player did what she usually does. Simply the best.

Right back: Dione Housheer, Netherlands

Housheer may not have carried the Netherlands on her shoulders throughout the World Championship – the entire team was very strong – but it wasn’t far off. Clearly the brightest star in a team that reclaimed its top-four status in the world.

Defender: Emily Vogel, Germany

Many of us agreed beforehand that Germany would have a strong championship. Few believed they would reach the final – probably not even the Germans themselves. A major reason for the silver medal is Emily Vogel, who with her excellent defensive play helped shut down several teams, including the giant France in the semi-final.

MVP: Katrine Lunde, Norway

Coach: Ole Gustav Gjekstad, Norway

It was of course not entirely easy or uncomplicated – or at least it didn’t have to be – to take over after Thorir Hergeirsson. But Gjekstad stepped in and delivered immediately, as expected. And the question is whether Norway, under his leadership, were even more dominant in this championship than they have been for quite some time. That’s certainly how it feels right now.