News Archive for news
about the Danish national team in women's team handball- 1998:
December 98
The European Championship
19/12
Denmark and Norway met in the finals on Sunday 20/11 1998.
Denmark - Austria: 35 -24 (22-9)
Goals for Denmark:
Camilla Andersen 11 (3), Tonje Kjærgaard 6, Anette Hoffmann 4, Mette
Vestergaard 3, Karen Brødsgaard 3, Kristine Andersen 2, Katrine
Fruelund 2, Janne Kolling 2, Christina Roslyng Hansen 1, Lotte Kiærskou
1 (1).
17/12
Denmark - Norway: Result censured, as too embarrassing for us!
Denmark - Poland: 29-21
Denmark - Russia: 27 - 22 (14 - 10)
Goals for Denmark:
Tonje Kjærgaard 5, Katrine Fruelund 5, Mette Vestergaard
4, Christina Roslyng 4, Camilla Andersen 4 (2), Janne Kolling 3, Lotte
Kiærskou 2
Denmark - Spain: 26-23 (13-10)
Goals for Denmark:
Janne Kolling 5, Tonje Kjærgaard 5, Camilla Andersen
5 (2), Mette Vestergaard 4, Anette Hoffmann 3, Lotte Kiærskou 3,
Helle Simonsen 1
Denmark - Macedonia: 37-21 (19-10)
Goals for Denmark;
Anette Hoffmann11, Kristine Andersen 5 (1), Camilla Andersen
4, Lotte Kiærskou 4 (1), Mette Vestergaard 3, Janne Kolling 3, Katrine
Fruelund 2, Christine Roslyn Hansen 2, Karen Brødsgaard 2, Tonje
Kjærgaard 1.
For more information in English, have a look at: News
from the tournament in the Netherlands
Ready for the Nederlands?
No, not quite!
Playmaker Merete Møller will not recover from her injury in time to
join the national team for the European Championship in Holland next week.
As there are no obvious substitutes for her position, trainer Jan Pytlick
has decided only to bring 15 out of 16 possible players and leave the
last place open. Several players are in a waiting position back in Denmark
and depending on which injuries will occur, the trainer can call in the
most suitable player. The three substitutes will be Merethe Hansen, Malene
Andersen and Ditte Krogh.
The fact that Merete is missing will form a big problem
for the Danish team, which is already handicapped by several key players
having left the team and the overstrained condition of players who have
been through too many matches during the year.
Another important "old" player, Anette Hoffmann (the world's
best left wing), will be ready to join the team again after recovering
from her injury (the French again!! They seem to enjoy turning our players
into cripples!! What about joining a rugby team, girls??). However,
Anette will not be in top shape, since she has not played for six weeks.
The same can be said for our famous goal keeper Susanne Munk Lauritsen,
who has not had much time to regain her strength after HER injury. Many
see this as a dangerous development; Players who have not had the time
to regain strength through many matches are more likely to get injured
again, when they are returned to the battlefield too soon (see the discussions
about too many matches leading to too many injuries and retirements from
the sport).
Four-nation tournament in France
Denmark - France: 23-26
Denmark - Poland: 21-12
Denmark - Kroatia: 28 -19
The new team showed potential, but also revealed that
it still has many many weaknesses, especially when under real pressure
(which does not happen often enough). Lene Rantala, Tonje Kjærgaard,
Karen Brødsgaard and Helle Simonsen did the best performances. The
real test could not be passed: a strong French team, which played like
a bunch of bullies and wore out the tired and unfocused Danes. We could
defend well but not make the attack work out properly. How we miss Anja
on such a day!
2/11 1998
NetCom Cup.
Denmark-Russia 38-22 (21-9.)
Denmark-Korea: 26-23
Denmark-Germany: 29-21
Denmark- France: 28-19
Norway- Denmark: 28-24
Silvermedal to Denmark and gold to Norway - their first
victory over Denmark in two years!
The first many opponents proved too easy a task for the
young team. Camilla Andersen stated, that she could actually need some
resistance in order to find out how they reacted to pressure. She had confidence
in the many new young and inexperienced players and found them better than
expected. Her wish came true as the team met the last two opponents. Too
much experimenting from the trainer and too weak an offence shook the invincibles.
It became clear that the many new players still need a lot of practice
and guts to take responsability. As it is now, the team survives because
of Camilla Andersen, Tonje Kjærgaard, Hoffmann and the keeper Rantala
- all veterans.
However, Camilla still believes in the team for the European
Championship, even though she admits, that it now is easier to break their
mental barriers. They can be beaten now, as the match against Norway shows
- but only by the best! We only hope thaat the trainer manages to find the
best combinations and stop swopping around. And also that Hoffmann, Møller
and Lauritsen will recover from their injuries and be fit for fight next
month.
20/10 1998
Friendship matches Denmark-South Korea
36-27 (20-12) and 32-21
A weakened new version of the Korean team proved a disappointing
opponent to the equally renewed "baby team" from Denmark. The Asians did
not meet the high expectations of a second thriller as in the Olympic gold
final, and it looks like it will take them a long time to build up their
team to former glory. The Danes could play as they liked, and especially
Lene Rantala made wonders in the goal. But later, Camilla Andersen stated,
that it had been a totally unnecessary arrangement, which was of little
use to their further work up to the European Championship. She accuses
the national handball federation of having economic instead of sporting
motives behind the arrangement. DHF in turn blames the local clubs of pushing
their players to an endless number of matches with no breaks inbetween,
in order to be able to pay the bills and the players' very low wages. Today,
they have 30 tournament matches on club level, the European Cup a.o. plus
an increasing number of national matches. No time is left to reconstitue
and do basic fitness training to keep from getting injuries. Furthermore,
the players object to the increasing number of cups and other tournaments,
which have led to the many injuries and "early retirement" of close to
half the "old" national team this year. Next week, the team will head for
Norway and yet another cup!
Anja will no longer play for the national team
We have feared it. We have heard threats about it before. Now it is a
sad fact: Anja Andersen will no longer play for the national Danish team.
At least not for the rest of the year (including the European Championship
in December, where Denmark has a title to defend). Only the Norwegian
league team, which she plays for on a daily basis, Bækkelaget, will
benefit from her magic. The reasons for the mega star's farewell are allegedly
lack of energy and enthusiasm for the game due to her period of illness
(and probably the shock from her "heart attack"), the latest
controversies and the feeling that she needs a break from the national
team.
Camilla Andersen states to the papers, that according to her knowledge
of Anja, it is not very likely that the world's best player will return
after her break, "as soon as she realises how nice it is not having
to play for the national team." Even though the work load does
increase by that national "duty", one should think that flying
the Danish colours should mean something special. That Anja does not feel
that way at the moment is hard to grasp for some journalists, but perhaps
we do not know the full story. I only hope, that Anja will return again,
when she has recovered from the stressfull events. Without her, Danish
team handball is back where it started .... with sheer boredom and unimaginative
routine. If she stops for good, I will no longer watch handball. The queen
has resigned and her empire broken. I do not believe, that the Danish
national team will ever again bring home all the Championships, which
were becoming a matter of course and a national fever. Ten minutes of
silence, please!
Super Cup
20/9-98.
It was a triump for the Danish league team Ikast to win the Super Cup
for the first time. For Ikast plays a.o. Tonje Kjærgaard and Kristine
Andersen, who thus beat their national team friends Anja Andersen and
Gitte Madsen who play for Bækkelaget.
Metal Cup
September
Metal Cup was played from 25-27th. September in Viborg, Denmark/Herning.
Denmark - Rumania: 34 - 26 Tonje Kjærgaard 7, Kristine
Andersen 7 (2)
Denmark - Russia: 27 - 21 (17-9) Helle Simonsen 4, Kristina
Andersen 4 (1), Karina Jespersen 4
Denmark - Norway: 33 - 21 (15-10) Camilla Andersen 8
(4)
After the many resignations of the well-known players
such as Gitte Madsen, Rikke Solberg, Anne Dorthe Tanderup and Tina Bøttzau,
the national team has now transformed into a new team, mostly with very
young unexperienced players. In this cup there were furthermore cancellations
by Anja Andersen and Susanne Munk Lauritzen. It was feared that this sudden
change would throw the team light-years back in time quality-wise.The first
match (with very few spectators) almost convinced me of that fact, but
the two following showed a team almost as effective as the old one. But
only just. A bit of the old charm and skillfull magic is gone in my personal
opinion (but I'm so prejudiced - I miss the "old team"!). A lot of work
is still required to provide the young players with sufficient experience,
strength and independence, especially in the defence. However, Lene Rantale
(130 national matches), Tonje Kjærgaard and Camilla Andersen (141
international matches) proved their high value for the team, especially
in the last match against the old rival Norway - the only worthy opponent
in this Cup.These experienced players will be good teachers for the growing
superstars."My role on the team is to make the young players feel confident",
Camilla Andersen says. This weekend, that was not needed! Fear and tremble,
ye teams of the European Championship!
Referees on a personal vendetta against Anja
Anja Andersen and her coatch Frode Kyvåg are convinced, that the
Norwegian Referee Committee is bullying the Danish amazon deliberately,
when they assign certain referees to Bækkelaget's matches, who are
known to be unfair to Anja. On public Norwegian tv she told the viewers
why se refused to play against Storhamar when Bjørn Erik Børresen
was referee in that match. She had the suspicion, that this man is just
waiting to give her unfair penalties. And when that happens, she is bound
to tell to his face how much she dislikes him, which she'd rather avoid
being forced to, she explained. After that statement, the Norwegian Handball
Federation tried to report her and get her punished on the grounds of
"damaging the sport".
Anja has had her fights with Børresen, been disqualified by him
and later she dedicated a photo on the back cover of her self-biography
to him, on which she gives the finger. She claims, that the manager of
the referee committee, Terje Anthonsen, has a personal grudge against
her (from previous matches and due to her book statements). He is supposed
to have made a video tape containing solely of Anja episodes and used
it as a negative example to show other referees how "to keep her
down".
Her coatch Frode Kyvåg supports her and lets her stay away from
Børresen's matches. If she sustains her decision, though, it will
have serious consequenses for Denmark's match agains South Korea on 29th.
October in the NetCom Cup in Norway. " It is not the person but the
referee, whom I'm mad at", she says. "I don't want to harm him
but rather draw attention to the profession itself, for the benefit of
handball. I feel that he is prejudiced against me." Later she claimed
that she would never grant him the satisfaction of giving her a red card.
And for that reason she promised that she "would never get a red
card again". Knowing her temper, that is a promise which is impossible
to keep!
Gitte Madsen quits
Yet another important core player decides to end the fairy-tale here. Gitte
Madsen (29) has been on the national team right from the beginning when
the youth team won silver at the Youth World Championship in 1987. She
has thus experienced the national team from the hopeless beginning (when
it was abolished in 1987) and then the entire rise of the team to world
fame and winner of all titles possible. The reason for her drastic decision
is the fact that the constant tournaments of various kinds wear on her
physical and mental health. She would like to take more care of herself,
since there is also a life after her active handball career to think of.
Gitte will, however continue to play for her club team Bækkelaget
in Norway, with which she has a two-year contract.
Anja Andersen's accident
6. september 1998.
During a match for Anja's Norwegian team Baekkelaget against Gjerpen,
she received a blow in the chest by a defence player, just as she was
attempting a goal. Soon after that, Andersen felt ill and went to sit
down on the bench, whereafter she lost consciousness for half a minute.
The team doctor revived her by cardiac massage and reported, that her
bloodpressure sank dangerously and her puls went down to 28. She regained
consciousness and was taken to the hospital. Further tests indicated no
heart malfunctions whatsoever, and she is expected to be back on the "battlefield"
again at the end of the week.
Scandinavian Open: Semi-finals between Denmark
and Poland
In Scandinavian Open, Denmark played
in the semi-final against Poland and won an expected 30-28 victory.
It was not a very exceptional game, in fact it was obvious that the Danes
had not yet reached a proper level of training, here in the middle of summer.
Only Anette Hoffmann and the injured Anne Dorthe Tanderup did not participate.
There were many technical errors and both defences appeared weak. It was
af if Poland as an opponent was such an easy task, that the team only did
the most what was necessary to win and no more. But even then, the Danish
team proved its strength as all players scored. Lene Rantala was most impressive
in the goal, which she defended successfully 13 times from the moment she
took over from her colleague Gitte Sunesen in the second half.
Anja Andersen scored the most goals
and gave the Poles a scare when she almost swept them out of the court
from the beginning and made 6 out of the first 9 goals. After that she
seemed to lose concentration and took up the role as provider of goal making
passes to her team mates.Something which, with her brilliant court sense,
shows her expertise.
The final: Denmark - Norway
On Thursday the 2nd of July Denmark
played the finals against Norway. It was also these two teams that fought
for the World Championship title last year. Norway did not make it this
time either even though they won Scandinavian Open in 1996; Denmark won
35-24. Anja Andersen did what was expected of the best player in
the world and she showed her Norwegian friends how a match should be won.
She became the top scorer with eight goals, one even made between her own
legs. Among these, seven of her goals were made in the first half, which
Denmark won 22-11. Only the Norwegian players Kjersti Grini and Trine Haltvik
could form some qualified resistance to Denmark and they scored six and
eight goals respectively. Also Christina Roslyng Hansen from Denmark (Viborg
Handball Club) did a good job with 6 goals before the break. In the goal
Susanne Munk Lauritsen made yet another great performance and took 15 shots
from the Norwegians. Also in this match all Danish players scored.
Goals scored for Denmark: Anja Andersen
8, Christina Roslyng Hansen 6, Helle Simonsen 5, Camilla Andersen 3, Tonje
Kjærgaard 3, Karen Brødsgaard 3, Karina Jespersen 3 (1), Janne
Kolling 2, Gitte Madsen 1, Katrine Fruelund 1.
For Norway: Trine Haltvik 8, Kjersti
Grini 6 (1), Siv Heim Sæbøe 4, Sahra Hausmann 2, Tonje Larsen
2, Lise Larsen 2.
New trainer
What was worth noticing was the fact
that Jan Pytlick (31) had his debut as national trainer for the team, taking
over the job from Ulrik Wilbek (40). However, Jan will still get help from
the "old" assistant trainer Kim Jensen who remains with the team.
It was with great regret that we all say goodbye to Wilbek. It was his efforts
and insights into his players personalities which formed this exceptional
team and led them to all their victories, winning all there is to win.
In fact the fairy tale started already with the youth team, which he led
to their victories in the World Championship for youth teams. This team
was the raw material with which he shaped the "adult" national
team that we have today, which consists of many of the same players. Wilbek
took over the women's national team after the World Championship in South
Korea in 1991 (where we became number 10 - just enough to secure us entrance
to the WC in Norway 3 years later). Now Wilbek will have more time for
his political career in Viborg and his wife Susanne Munk Lauritzen.
To the Danish tabloid B.T. Anja
Andersen comments that it was hard to get used to Ulrik not being there
as usual to guide the players from his bench. "Of course I will miss
the co-operation. Ulrik is a trainer that I care for. Surely we have had
our quarrels along the way, but it has only strengthened our relationship.
But now it's over and I am looking forward to work with Jan Pytlick."
Jan Pytlick has himself been a handball
player for GOG, but stopped his career due to a shoulder injury. Before
he took over the national team, he trained both men's and women's teams
in GOF and Esbjerg, bringing several national championships come to his
club.
Best player of the year
The female players of all Danish teams
voted for the best player of the year. The leader of the national team,
Tonje Kjærgaard (playing for Ikast), was elected with 221 votes.
Anja Andersen (Bækkelaget),
Merete Møller (Randers) and Karen Brødsgaard (Viborg) all
had 15 votes while Camilla Andersen (FIF) had 10 votes. The trophy is of
course called the Wilbek cup.
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