Norway face Belarus without Edin and Blanco

Norway will be missing two of their most experienced players when they meet Belarus in two qualification matches for the Women's EHF EURO 2014 at the end of this month.

Centre back Anja Hammerseng-Edin has decided to take a break from the national team for family reasons, and line player Isabel Blanco want to give priority to her club Larvik HK.

"For the first two years of Mio's (Anja Hammerseng-Edin's son) life I have given priority to the national team and to club handball in Larvik. This has meant that I have been away from my son one third of the year.

"I have had a patient wife (former Norwegian international Gro Hammerseng-Edin). We are both parents who want to play handball at top level, and that demands a certain structure in the daily life.

"Now I want to more present," Anja Hammerseng-Edin told the Norwegian Handball Federation's website.

National team head coach Thorir Hergeirsson expressed understanding for Anja Hammerseng-Edin´s decision.

"We understand Anja´s feeling for her situation, but we don't see the door as being completely closed, as long as she is qualified for playing at national team level.

"It is important that she is one hundred per cent motivated. The coaching team respects the choice Anja has made," Hergeirsson said.

Others to take over

One of the key players in the Norwegain team, left wing Camilla Herrem, regrets the absence of Hammerseng-Edin and Blanco.

"It will mean a lot not to have those to in the team. Anja with her experience and her activity in the playmaker position – and Isabel who is not only a great line player in the attack but also very good in the defence.

"That being said, we still have so many good players, that others can take over without making the handicap too big," Camilla Herrem told ehf-euro.com.

She has an extra reason to look forward to the matches against Belarus - and to the home match in particular.

"That game is going to be played in Stavanger which is the city I come from, and a full Stavanger Arena will just be awesome," she said.

The matches against Belarus in Stavanger on 26 March and the return leg in Mogilev 30 March will be Norway's last EHF EURO 2014 qualification matches as there are only three teams in Group 6.

After clear wins against the third team in the group, Romania, Norway are very close to qualifying for the final tournament in Hungary and Croatia in December and they are eager to finish the job.

"Of course, we go for a win in both matches. We always go for the win. Anything else would be strange," Camilla Herrem said with a smile.

The squad

With not having Anja Hammerseng-Edin and Isabel Blanco at his disposal, Hergeirsson has nominated the following squad for the qualifiers against Belarus:

Goalkeepers: Katrine Lunde (Györ Audi ETO KC) Silje Solberg (Stabæk Håndball)

Left wing: Camilla Herrem (Byasen Trondheim) Sanne Solberg (Stabæk Håndball)

Back court players: Stine Bredal Oftedahl (Issy Paris Hand) Ida Alstad (Team Tvis Holstebro) Veronica Kristiansen (Glassverket IF)Karoline Dyhre Breivang (Larvik HK) Mari Molid (Levanger HK) Betina Riegelhuth (Storhamar IL)Linn Jørum Sulland (Larvik HK) Nora Mørk (Larvik HK) Tonje Nøstvold (Byasen Trondheim)

Right wing: Linne-Kristin Riegelhuth Koren (Larvik HK)

Line players: Heidi Løke (Györi Audi ETO KC) Pernille Wibe (Issy Paris Hand)