KRAKOW (VG) (Netherlands – Norway 26-27) Captain Christian O’Sullivan (31) believes Norway did not follow the plan when the Netherlands shook them before the break in the group final.
– Much better in the second half than the first half. We have big problems against a very good attacking team. We are a bit disloyal to our own game, and don’t take the chances we want, says Christian O’Sullivan to VG and states:
– Then it is difficult against the Netherlands.
Norway turned from 13–17 and won 27–26 after a thriller finish. With that, Norway won the group and takes the full pot with them to the main round.
But in the first half it looked ugly for a while. The Netherlands led at most with six goals and Luc Steins impressed tremendously. Norway also struggled offensively.
– It is easy to get too eager, says Sander Sagosen. He says Norway had to spend a half on finding the right balance between going into duels and speeding up the ball.
– It’s not that there are bad chances (that Norway takes), but if we play the ball a few more times, we’ll have a better chance. I think we’ll see that in the second half, explains O’Sullivan.
O’Sullivan is supported by the national team manager in that assessment:
– Yes, because we do not “stretch” the Dutch defence. We do that much better in the second half, says Jonas Wille. After seven wins and 83 plus goals, he got a taste of a consistent game.
– I am proud of the team and think it was strong of the team to turn this around. This is the first time we are properly tested. During the break, the players were calm and constructive. We were able to change both defensive and attacking play during the match, he says.
After the break, Norway gained better control defensively and the flow also improved going forward.
– We are very, very close in the middle. Then they become dependent on taking shots from the edge and bad angles, O’Sullivan points out.
He believes Norway also got a better hold of Luc Steins.
– We get slightly better hits on him. He just slips through us in the first half, we didn’t connect with him. When he gets to go north and south like that, he’s impossible to stop, says O’Sullivan and describes the change in the second half as follows:
– We manage to get a little push on him. He is not the strongest player in the world, although he is extremely fast. But with a little push on him, we manage to clear him away.
Magnus Abelvik Rød, who scored two decisive goals in the final minutes, stated that “it was about mental strength” this evening in Krakow, Poland.
– And I think the whole team shows that. That is what I am most proud of today, says Abelvik Rød.
The Netherlands’ Luc Steins couldn’t hide his disappointment after the match.
– I am not satisfied with the match. We were so close to doing something special today, at least get a draw. In the second half, we didn’t have the same energy, says Steins to Viaplay.
He felt that the Netherlands thought too much about tactics than playing with their heart after the break.
– It’s crap now, but it’s a good sign that we’re so close to a top team.
