16.05.2014, 11:05
Denmark want to make all doubts vanish in Michalovce

FEATURE: Out of the three remaining Women's EHF EURO 2014 qualifiers, the first one is the most important for Danish left wing Ann Grete Norgaard

Denmark want to make all doubts vanish in Michalovce

With a win against Ukraine on neutral ground in Michalovce in Slovakia on 4 June, Denmark can secure their spot at the Women's EHF EURO 2014 in Hungary and Croatia in December

And according to one of their most experienced players, Ann Grete Norgaard, the Danes are determined to make it all clear in the first attempt.

Denmark have three matches left in Qualification Group 1 for the EHF EURO 2014 and they have won all of their previous three matches.

Because of the political situation in Ukraine, the match has been moved to neutral court in the Slovakian Michalovce, but Norgaard says, it may not mean a lot that the Ukraine do not have the home advantage in that match.

"It will probably mean that there won't be that much pressure from the spectators, as there might have been in Ukraine, but we do not really mind playing away, and personally I prefer some noise from the standings instead of silence," the 30-year-old left wing told ehf-euro.com.

"Anyway, we want to make it all clear in the match against Ukraine, so that we may be able to focus a bit on experiments, like for instance aggressive defence, in the last two matches against Austria and Lithuania – and I believe we can accomplish that.

"We had some troubles in the second half of our home game against Ukraine (28:26 for Denmark), maybe because we felt a bit too secure after a fine first half, but that will not happen again, and even though we may try some new things in the matches against Austria and Lithuania, those are definitely matches we should also win.

"We go for a win in every match we play, and achieving maximum points in this group is our goal," Ann Grete Norgaard said.

22 players in the squad

National coach Jan Pytlick has nominated 22 players overall for the three matches.

17 players have been nominated for the away matches against Ukraine and Austria on 4 and 7 June, while the five remaining players will join the squad ahead of the home game against Lithuania on 15 June.

The squad includes returning goalkeeper Sandra Toft and centre back Lotte Grigel who celebrate their comeback.

"I have chosen to include Lotte Grigel as well as Sandra Toft again. Both have done well for their club teams after their injury breaks, so it is obvious that they deserve the chance again," Pytlick said.

The squad for the matches against Ukraine and Austria:

Goalkeepers: Cecilie Greve (HC Odense), Rikke Poulsen (Vejen EH), Sos Soby (København Håndbold)

Left wings: Maria Fisker (Viborg HK), Ann Grete Norgaard (Team Tvis Holstebro)

Right wings: Trine Ostergaard (FC Midtjylland), Gitte Andersen (Randers HK)

Back court players: Stine Jorgensen (FC Midtjylland), Anne Sofie Hjort (Team Tvis Holstebro), Jane Schumacher (Skive fH), Kristina Kristiansen (Team Tvis Holstebro), Lotte Grigel (Team Esbjerg), Louise Burgaard (Viborg HK), Line Jorgensen (FC Midtjylland)

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

The five players who will join the squad upon its return to Denmark, and who will get the chance to be nominated for the Lithuania match:

Sandra Toft (goalkeeper, Team Tvis Holstebro), Fie Woller (left wing, FC Midtjylland), Anne Mette Pedersen (back court player, København Håndbold), Stine Bodholt Nielsen (line player, Skive fH), Katrine Heindahl (line player, Randers HK)

TEXT: Peter Bruun / ts