Norway's captain says it: Denmark is gold-favorite!

HERNING, denmark (Ekstra Bladet): Bjarte Myrhol has been with you all the way. The 36-year-old captain made his debut way back in 2002, when the Norwegian denmark in the degree was bearish in relation to the sejrsvante jenter – the story we know after all! and now he is in the degree to get stretched the værkende legs and especially the arms high in the air. At the top of the podium on ten days in the Box.

But Skjern-the player will not wear the favorite hat of the day, when Norway meets Denmark in Herning.

In the world's best teams?

- No, it is not something you are – it is something one becomes. It takes a lot to get there, so we have to talk about after the 27. In my eyes Denmark is a small favorite, and then there are five-six teams then: France, Sweden, Norway, Germany, Spain and Croatia. It is close in the top.

You think Denmark is the favourite to win the gold?

- Yes! Denmark playing at home. If I were a bookmaker, I had probably put Denmark as a small favorite.

The nice words from the polite gentleman does not change course, that Norway will come with fire in your eyes in puljefinalen. Ten of the 16 current players have all had – or still have – their time in the Danish håndboldhaller, there is none, they'd rather beat, and personally have Bjarte Myrhol enjoyed to play on ’home turf’.

- I have been at home with the family and with the children. It is really good to have them so close. It has been one of my biggest challenges at the recent championships to be away from them in a month. It is really hard.

You are a soft man when it comes to the crunch?

- Yes, I must say. I am a family man, says his father, Rasmus, 6, and Veslemøy, 4.

Norway exploded in the euphoria of two years ago, when the national team hit France in the final in Paris, but an explosive load greater has been ready for a while.

- Brand new is it not, but something has happened in the last four years. We came in the semifinals at the european championships in Poland in 2016, but it started probably already have at home in 2008, and in Croatia the year after we were also close to the semi-final. The interest has lain latent in Norway, we have just lacked the results to get it to grow, says Bjarte Myrhol.

- There are many factors, and you could talk long, but when at the same time we've got the world's best player up on the team, helps it too little, he says, and laughs.

Bjarte Myrhol is reliable in both attack and defense, for Norway and for Skjern. He has been with since 2002, when the national team was not so popular, and the norske jenter ran with all the attention. Photo: Jens Dresling
- If you see where our players are working klubmæssigt, it is Flensburg, PSG, and other best clubs and when we lose one from Veszprem, a check from Kiel. It is the boys who play and deliver in the really good clubs, and it has given a boost to all parameters, says the captain.

I made a small survey, where the players had to describe the team. The most prominent words were: Unity! It is not a coincidence. We have built something where the team is greater than one even, and hungry is definitely present. Many have at the same time, the right age.

If you don't win the gold – and it will be Norway?

- It would be a kæmpedrøm that came true!

Handball - 15. jan. 2019 - at. 15:35 Nicholas acknowledges mistakes - and giving up to pronounce last name