It’s evident to many an expert and lover of handball that France and Norway are on a collision course set for the final of the women’s competition. They were busy sparring in preparation for this event, so we may not need to fuss over them too often during the preliminary round. Given that this is day one, however, this feels like a good chance to get a first real look at them in action.
Handball’s very own best of frenemies opened their Olympic campaigns on Thursday evening with back-to-back tests, considered tough yet manageable.
Getting the job done
France threatened to subject us to another notoriously slow start, quickly falling 5:1 behind to a Hungary side who were putting away all of their early chances.
It felt unsustainable, however, and so it proved to be as Hungary eventually began to miss and France punished them on the counter-attack. Before you knew it, France were on a 7:1 run and had wrestled back control to lead by three at the half.
The expectant and vocal home crowd were given a little bit of everything but plenty to shout about over the course of 60 minutes.
Despite Hungary not showing anything particularly bright, an underwhelming third quarter saw them creep back into contention. The crowd did their best to drive their heroes on and a couple of inspired plays by Hatadou Sako in goal and Estelle Nze-Minko in front of it were enough to keep the host’s noses in front and eventually claim a 31:28 victory.
A Henny-shaped hole
Norway entered their Scandi derby against Sweden without the world’s best player, Henny Reistad, who did not win a race against the clock to be fit for this clash. Her ankle injury shouldn’t keep her out much longer but this offered an opportunity for others to get a run out and find some solutions without the 25-year-old against a solid Sweden team.
And solid they were, stellar keeping from Johanna Bundsen and Roberts dancing around the defence saw the Swedes open up an early lead and they had a real chance to stretch it to four by the quarter-hour mark.
Despite patchy transition play and losing the goalkeeper battle, Norway suddenly found themselves leading 17:15 by the break.
In this situation, you expect Norway to streak ahead in the second half, 99 times out of 100, but no. Bundsen continued to make miraculous saves, 18 in total, Norway played themselves into danger and Nina Koppang had her coming out party, firing in eight goals in a game like this for the first time and Sweden had the lead.
Despite losing both line players, Hvenfeldt to injury and Blohm to a red card, Sweden found a way with Carin Strömberg deputising and a funky 7vs6 approach with four back court players. Norway had no response and fell to a 32:28 defeat.
What we learned?
It would be unfair to categorise this as a classic France slow start. They didn’t win pretty, but they did win and displayed an ability to turn it on when they like while rotating the bench with ease and regularity as 11 players got on the scoreboard.
They got over the line and clearly enjoyed the occasion, basking in the love they received after the first of many post-match celebrations at these games.
Norway did not enjoy this. This generation began to show just the tiniest bit, replacements couldn’t rescue the situation and the previously mentioned opportunity presented by Reistad’s absence instead proved to expose the rest of the squad.
It’s only game one, they will be back stronger and with Reistad. The expected dream final is still a strong possibility but alternate realities have presented themselves.