Pytlick tests new players ahead of EHF EURO 2012

When the women´s national teams from Denmark, Norway, Russia and France meet at the Golden League tournament in Aarhus from October 5 to Ocotober 7, an almost entirely new Danish squad will enter the court.

Only six names from the Danish team at the 2012 London Olympic Games were among the 22 names that Denmark´s national coach Jan Pytlick announced for the Golden League at a press conference.

The Olympic tournament became a disappointment for the Danes as they did not make it further than the preliminary round, but still it came as a surprise that Pytlick made so many changes so shortly before EHF EURO 2012 in December.

Experienced players such as goalkeeper Christina Pedersen, backcourt players Christina Krogshede, Camilla Dalby, Trine Troelsen and Line Jørgensen were left out of the squad, while other experienced forces like goalkeeper Karin Mortensen and backcourt player Rikke Skov as well as line players Mette Melgaard and Louise Spellerberg had quit the national team following the Olympic Games.

However, Pedersen, Krogshede, Dalby and Jørgensen are still in the picture for EHF EURO 2012 in Serbia (4 to 16 December).

“They have been told that they are not in the team, because I want to test some other players. I hope that the young players can 'pinch the older ones a bit in their butt', so that we get a keen battle for the positions.” Pytlick explained.

“We plan ahead for the World Championship at home in 2015 and also for the 2016 Olympics. Therefore we need a large squad, and we have so see a lot of young players,” he added.

The Danish squad

Goalkeepers: Marianne Lundsby (Team Tvis Holstebro) Rikke Poulsen (KIF Vejen) Cecilie Greve (HC Odense)

Left wingers: Ann Grethe Nørgaard (Team Tvis Holstebro) Mie Augustesen (Thüringer HC) Fie Woller (FC Midtjylland Håndbold)

Right wingers: Gitte Andersen (Randers HK) Trine Østergaard (FC Midtjylland Håndbold) Louise Lyksborg (Viborg HK)

Line players: Susan Thorsgaard (FC Midtjylland Håndbold) Marianne Bonde (FIF) Mette Gravholt (Team Tvis Holstebro)

Backcourt players: Pernille Holst Larsen (Viborg HK) Sofie Strangholt (Randers HK) Kristina Kristiansen (Team Tvis Holstebro) Stine Jørgensen (Aalborg DH) Sofie Bloch Sørensen (FIF) Lotte Grigel (Team Esbjerg) Berit Kristensen (Randers HK) Louise Burgaard (Team Tvis Holstebro) Julie Aagaard (SK Aarhus) Ann Sofie Hjort (Ringkøbing Håndbold)