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News archive 2004 for the Danish national team in women's handball

[December 2004]

European Championship 2004 in Hungary

See also my brief EC overview
Do not expect to find a team with just remotely recognizable names on the list. With the wave of injured or retired players, Pytlick has had to call in just about everyone who can spell the name handball. Now one of the last hopes for a great performance, Katrine Fruelund, also had to wave goodbye to the coming European Championship due to an injury. See the new list of players under The Team. The players have only met for two weeks prior to the championship.

Denmark is in group C with Rumania, Germany and Sweden.
Group A: Norway, Ukraine, Spain, Tjechoslovakia
Group B: Russia, Serbia/Montenegro, Slovenia, Croatia
Group D: France, Hungary, Austria and Belarus.

Even though we are defending our title as European Champions, Pytlick this time only has a humble goal of getting past the preliminary round! Which team will be the new heir to the throne?

Denmark - Germany: 27-24 (12-14)
Goals for Denmark: Henriette Mikkelsen 6(1), Mette Sjøberg 5, Karen Brødsgaard 4, Rikke Hørlykke 4(1), Touray 3, Rikke Skov 2, Anne Peteren 1, Camilla Thomsen 1, Lise Knudsen 1.

After a bad first half, the grey skies cleared up with a few changes on the court. Goalkeeper Bager Nørgaard, who did not catch many shots, was replaced by the more experienced Karin Mortensen (the goalkeepers have been predicted to be the ones to win our matches). Grit Jurack was being well guarded and debutant Mette Sjøberg, who scored five goals, took a brave responsibility on the team which was nervous and making an endless amount of fault.

At some point the Germans lead 13-8 after a couple of Danish disqualifications. The second half was more positive for the Danes, even though we at some point only lead by one goal before the Germans finally got tired..

Denmark - Sweden: 24 - 21 (11 - 9)
Goals for Denmark: Henriette Mikkelsen 4, Hørlykke 4(1), Winnie Mølgaard 4(3), Karen Brødsgaard 3, Touray 3, Anne Petersen 2, Lise Knudsen 2, Mette Sjøberg 1, Lene Tobiasen 1. Udvisninger 5, Danmark 2.

What should have been a very easy job turned out to be a bit of a horror show. To be honest, it was a very lousy Danish performance not worthy of the defending champions. Messy play and a load of missed opportunities (yes, that thing with the net is called a gol!) Five times they missed a penalty shot, which is quite unheard of. Again we were saved by our goalkeepers and a better physical shape than the opponents. Chances were queing up, nobody was able to take advantage of them, maybe apart from Sjøberg and Knudsen - not the ones we had expected to take responsibility. But luck has brought us a step further in the tournament with maximum points.

Denmark - Rumania: 24 - 25 (11 - 12)
This could have been a victory and four points, but too many mistakes and stress resultet in a defeat and only 2 points. Mette Sjøberg was once again one of the few positive new flashes of light and initiative.

Rikke Skov 3, Henriette Mikkelsen 3, Anne Petersen 2, Laura Danielsen 1, Rikke Hørlykke B. Jørgensen 2, Mette Sjøberg 9, Karen Brødsgaard 2, Josephine Touray 2.

Denmark - Austria: 25 - 22 (16 - 14)
Hørlykke 6(1), Sjøberg 5(1), Skov 3, Mølgaard 3(2), Danielsen 2, Brødsgaard 2, Touray 2, Petersen 1, Knudsen 1.

Denmark - France: 22 - 20 (10 - 12)
Rikke Skov 5, Henriette Mikkelsen 3, Anne Petersen 3, Rikke Hørlykke 1, Camilla Thomsen 1, Lise Knudsen 2, Karen Brødsgaard 3, Josephine Touray 4.

Demark - Hungary: 24-23 (8 - 14)
Henriette Mikkelsen 4, Anne Petersen 1, Rikke Hørlykke B. Jørgensen 2, Camilla Thomsen 2, Lise Knudsen 1, Winnie Mølgaard 1, Mette Sjøberg 7, Karen Brødsgaard 2, Lene Tobiasen 1, Josephine Touray 3.

Denmark - Russia: 31 - 27 (11-11)
Henriette Mikkelsen 3, Anne Petersen 3, Rikke Hørlykke 5, Camilla Thomsen 1, Lise Knudsen 2, Mette Sjøberg 6, Karen Brødsgaard 3, Lene Tobiasen 1, Josephine Touray 7.

The finals: Denmark - Norway: 25 - 27 (11-11)
The silver medal that no one had ever imagined at the start of this championship with the inexperienced team, lacking the usual stars. Only the will to fight on and good skills from the coaches made it possible. Had the team had more experience, it actually could have won the gold medal, but too many technical errors at the end of the match had the girls exhausted.

Hørlykke, Thomsen, Brødsgaard 4 goals, Knudsen and Sjøberg 3, Mikkelsen, Petersen and Skov 2, Mølgaard andTouray 1.

On the Allstar team was chosen both Karin Mortensen and Touray. Third place and thereby bronze was won by Hungary. To find photos, please look at the official sites of the tournament.

[September + October 2004]

Core players leave the national team

Mette Vestergaard (28), Christina Roslyng (26), Kristine Andersen (27) and Line Daugaard (26) have all reported, that the Olympics was their last participation with the national team. Also star player Lotte Kiærskou will rather take care of her health and spare herself of the coming Championship - perhaps even say farewell to the national team alltogether. Jan Pytlick will also have to find a replacement for Trine Jensen. Thereby the team once again sufferes a massive drain of core players and the decisions ruin the long term work. Pytlick is not pleased. Winnie Mølgaard has been called in as the latest replacement.

Kristine has an injury as a reason, whereas the other players have lost their motivation. The players have long complained about too many matches, both for their clubs and tournaments with the national team. With the increased stress and profesionalization of the sport, the fun disappears and there is less time for educations, jobs and family. Big money is involved now and the happy amateur days are long over. But who will be the first to give in and make some changes?

Mette Vestergaard was the first of the players to announce that the Olympics was the final goodbye to the Danish national team. Mette started as a young and insecure player (1995), who had to prove her worth amongst the old "gold-team". But as the years went by and many stars faded, she herself became the most experience player and also captain of the new team with much younger girls under her wings. She ended with a total of 158 matches. See the players list and old results for more info.

[August 2004]

The Olympic Games, Greece 2004

See also my theme page

7. Denmark - Korea: 38 - 36 (14 - 14) Two extra time periods (4 - 4) and a penalty shootout gave this result after 25 - 25 ordinary time. The olympic gold is ours for the third time in a row! Like most of our matches, this one was follwed by members of the royal family - and for the finals, we both had our Queen Margrethe II, her husband Henri plus the Crown prince Frederik and his Australian wife Mary as spectators.

Goals: Katrine Fruelund 15, Kristine Andersen 5, Lotte Kiærskou 5, Karen Brødsgaard 3, Josephine Touray 3, Mette Vestergaard 2, Line Daugaard 2, Trine Jensen 1, Rikke Hørlykke 1, Henriette Mikkelsen 1

Final competition with penalty shots:
0-1 Sang Eun Lee
1-1 Katrine Fruelund
O Kyeong Lim
2-1 Lotte Kiærskou
Pil Hee Moon
3-1 Line Daugaard 3­2
Cha Youn Kim 4-2
Henriette Mikkelsen

6. Denmark - Ukraine: 29 - 20 (13 - 11)
Rikke Skov 1, Henriette Mikkelsen 1, Mette Vestergaard 3, Camilla Thomsen 1, Lotte Kiærskou 2, Trine Jensen 1, Katrine Fruelund 9, Kristine Andersen 1, Karen Brødsgaard 1, Line Daugaard 5, Josephine Touray 4. Just perfect 2. half. What can we say? Once again ready for the finals!

5. Denmark - China: 32 - 28 (18 - 14)
Rikke Skov 5, Henriette Mikkelsen 2, Mette Vestergaard 5, Camilla Thomsen 2, Lotte Kiærskou 2, Katrine Fruelund 7, Kristine Andersen 3, Karen Brødsgaard 2, Josephine Touray 4.
The first twenty minutes were acceptable, whereas the rest did not pass the test. The match started with speed and concentration which created a comfortable gap, that should have persisted to the end. But suddenly the Chinese had crept up to one goal of difference 22 - 23 and we had gradually lost consentration and faith. Luckily we pulled it off, but there is not much to be proud of in total. Too many faults and a general state of confusion. Only great performances by Rikke Schmidt, Katrine Fruelund and Mette Vestergaard kept the victory within reach. The two semi-finals are Denmark vs. Ukraine and France vs. South Korea. Just as we had expected.

4. Denmark - Angola: 38 - 22 (19 - 8)
Rikke Skov 1, Henriette Mikkelsen 5, Mette Vestergaard 1, Rikke Hørlykke B. Jørgensen 4, Camilla Thomsen 2, Trine Jensen 4, Katrine Fruelund 5, Kristine Andersen 3, Karen Brødsgaard 3, Line Daugaard 7, Josephiine Touray 3.
An easy match. The funny thing about it was the fact, that we actually did not really wish to win the group, but only go in second. That would keep us away from Korea untill the finals. So the secret order was not to win with more than 22. Not a very exhiting match, so we skip the details.

3. Spain - Denmark: 21-23 (8-14)
Camilla Thomsen 4, Kristine Andersen 4, Rikke Hørlykke 3, Line Daugaard 3, Henriette Mikkelsen 2, Mette Vestergaard 2, Lotte Kiærskou 2, Katrine Fruelund 2, Trine Jensen 1.
Terrible match, where an easy opponent suddenly came dangerously close due to a team too nervous and unconcentrated. That has happened before against teams that were no threat. Lotte Kiærskou hurt her knee and will not be able to play Monday against Angola. Also Touray has been injured.

2. Danmark - Korea: 29 -29 (23 - 14)
Goals for Denmark: Fruelund 7, Kiærskou 7, Vestergaard 3, Touray 5, Dauggaard 3, Thomsen 2, Jensen 1, Brødsgaard 1.
Thrilling match, where the Danes constantly fought to hang on but never got the lead they had hoped for against the fast Asians, who played a defensive and inclosing game. Lotte and Katrine were the best Danish players of the day, who never gave up and kept us in the match again and again. The Korean team was a direct opposite of the more heavy French team.

Denmark - France: 35 - 26 (16 - 11)
Goals for Denmark: Karen Brødsgaard 8, Fruelund 5, Touray 3, Line Daugaard 4, Camilla Thomsen 2, Hørlykke 3, Lotte Kiærskou 4, Henriette Mikkelsen 4, Rikke Skov 1, Mette Vestergaard 1.

Fruelund -IHF photoA bit surprising to win this easily - and without any injured Danish players left crushed on the field. The Danes are back with their best players and all have prepared themselves well, also physically. The defense was very good and besides a slow period during the middle of the second half, the Danes were leading the game all along.

 

Photo kindly lent to us out here by IHF.info.

[July 2004]

Pre-Olympic Tournament in France on 21 July

22/7-04: in Bordeaux: France - Denmark
23/7-04: in Boulzac: Denmark - Hungaria
25/7-04: in Bayonne: Denmark - Brazil

The Olympic team chosen (15. – 29. August)

Rikke Skov, Henriette Mikkelsen, Mette Vestergaard, Rikke Hørlykke, Camilla Thomsen, Karin Mortensen, Lotte Kiærskou, Trine Jensen, Katrine Fruelund, Louise Bager Nørgard, Rikke Poulsen Schmidt, Karen Brødsgaard, Line Daugaard, Josephine Touray.

Reserves for the last vacant position on the team:

Winnie Mølgaard, Christina Roslyng, Rikke Nielsen, Heidi Johansen, Anne Petersen and the injured Kristine Andersen.

[June 2004]

Lene Rantala not to the Olympics - Pytlick favours the young and inexperienced

To everybody's surpise, Jan Pytlick has chosen not to include 35-year old Lene Rantala on the national team, in spite of her wish to do her final contribution to her team after 13 years of fantastic goalkeeping. Is she getting that old and heavy, that she is due to retirement, then? Oh, no, Lene has never been better - even just been awarded the title as the best league player in Norway (she plays for Larvik). As many other men, Pytlick is more focused on youth, even though Bager Nørgaard is just getting her experience developed and Karin Mortensen's results have been most disappointing and below the acceptable standard. Rantala is of course very sad about this stupid decision - she had hoped to end her brilliant career of 13 years with a helping hand to yet another a medal. And medals, she has helped the team to win ever since it broke through for the very first time in 1993. What a shameful treatment of one of our greatest goalkeepers since Susanne Munk Lauritzen.

 

[May 2004]

Denmark - Korea 1: 24-24
Denmark - Korea 2: 22-28 (9 - 14)

Players: Lene Rantala, Karin Mortensen, Rikke Poulsen, Louise Bager, Rikke Skov, Henriette Mikkelsen, Mette Sjøberg (Horsens), Mette Vestergaard, Winnie Mølgaard, Christina Roslyng, Rikke Nielsen, Heidi Johansen, Camilla Thomsen, Tine Ladefoged, Trine Jensen, Katrine Fruelund, Anne Petersen, Karen Brødsgaard, Katrine Munch.

Lotte Kiærskou, Rikke Hørlykke and Kristine Andersen are not quite ready yet.

A Korean team which is said to be a candidate for the coming Olympic gold.

[March 2004]

Olympic groups found - and Denmark is in a really tough competition with France, South Korea plus Spain and Angola.

*

7/3: Denmark - Hungary: ?
6/3: Denmark - Holland: 34-31 (17-17) Topscorer Katrine Fruelund with nine goals. Camilla Thomsen had knee injury.
Denmark - Hungary: 29 -18 (13-6) Not a worthy match from the Word Champions - uninspired and with few good players, even if this was a test match. On the Danish team, however, many of the injured players that were missing during the last World Championship were back on court again. The match is the first preparation for the Olympics this summer.

 

-> Read the archive for 2003

 


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