Norway named 19 players to its upcoming women’s handball European Championship squad, featuring six debutants alongside established stars, Nettavisen reported Friday. Head coach Ole Gustav Gjekstad selected the group ahead of opening preliminary matches in Romania on December 4, managing a roster shaped by injuries, pregnancies, and retirements.
Sixteen Players Missing Through Injuries, Pregnancies, and Retirement
The squad announcement highlighted a significant turnover from previous championships. Stine Skogrand, Vilde Ingstad, and Veronica Kristiansen miss the tournament due to injuries, while Anniken Wollik and Maren Aardahl are pregnant. Veteran goalkeeper Katrine Lunde has also retired from international play.
Despite these absences, TV 2-ekspert Gro Hammerseng-Edin pointed to Norway’s recent form as proof of the team’s enduring strength. Norway secured a 34-25 victory over Denmark in the Golden League, a result Hammerseng-Edin described to Nettavisen as a massive margin against a primary medal contender.
Camilla Herrem Named as Emergency Reserve on Preliminary List
Dagbladet reported that former national team winger Camilla Herrem appeared on Norway’s preliminary squad list, generating widespread attention two years after her international retirement. Head coach Ole Gustav Gjekstad confirmed to Dagbladet that Herrem agreed to serve as a super-reserve in case of a crisis involving injuries. Herrem stated she has no active ambitions to return and will follow the tournament from Stavanger while the team utilizes its current wing selections, Sanna Solberg and others.
Meanwhile, fvn.no noted that Gjekstad acknowledged the squad contains an unusually high number of debutants given the absence of seasoned regulars. However, Hammerseng-Edin praised the Norwegian Handball Federation’s long-standing institutional framework for supporting players through pregnancies and facilitating their return to elite competition, calling it superior to other nations.
Frida Brandbu Andersen Secures Spot After Standout Performance Against Netherlands
TV 2 reported that Sola backcourt player Frida Brandbu Andersen earned her selection following a decisive performance in Odense last week against the Netherlands. Gjekstad told TV 2’s podcast Kommentatorbua
that the 24-year-old’s contribution of two goals and nine assists before halftime in her fourth international appearance finalized her place in the squad. Brandbu Andersen admitted to TV 2 that receiving the confirmation alongside club teammate Selma Henriksen brought an overwhelming sense of relief.
Gjekstad defended the inclusion of younger talents on merit rather than age, stating that the selected players have delivered consistent performances over time in high-level club environments such as the Champions League. Henriette Espetvedt Eggen also joins the team for her first championship, a choice Hammerseng-Edin highlighted as an indicator of Norway’s traditional emphasis on defensive reliability.
Complete Roster for the European Championship
The 19 players traveling to the tournament across the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Turkey, and Romania are:
- Silje Solberg-Østhassel (Team Esbjerg)
- Eli Marie Raasok (Storhamar Elite)
- June Cecilie Krogh (SCM Ramnicu Valcea)
- Live Rushfeldt Deila (Team Esbjerg)
- Kari Brattset Dale (Györi)
- Kristine Breistøl (Györi)
- Henny Ella Reistad (Team Esbjerg)
- Emilie Margrethe Hovden (Györi)
- Thale Rushfeldt Deila (Györi)
- Nora Mørk (Team Esbjerg)
- Ingvild Bakkerud (Odense)
- Selma Helén Henriksen (Sola)
- Frida Brandbu Andersen (Sola)
- Tuva Ulsaker Høve (SCM)
- Stella Waagan Kruse (Tertnes)
- Henriette Espetvedt Eggen (Team Esbjerg)
- Kristin Venn (Storhamar Elite)
- Mia Solberg Svele (Nykøbing Falster)
- Ane Cecilie Høgseth (Storhamar Elite)
Frequently Asked Questions About the Roster Selection
Who are Norway’s opponents in the opening match of the European Championship?
Nettavisen reported that Norway will face host nation Romania on December 4 in their opening preliminary match of the tournament.
How many players are making their championship debut for Norway?
fvn.no noted that head coach Ole Gustav Gjekstad included six debutants in the 19-player squad due to the absence of several established internationals.
Will Camilla Herrem play in the tournament?
Dagbladet reported that Herrem is listed only on the preliminary squad as an emergency reserve in case of injuries and currently plans to watch the matches from home.
What performance secured Frida Brandbu Andersen’s place in the squad?
TV 2 reported that Brandbu Andersen’s performance in Odense last week against the Netherlands, where she scored two goals and provided nine assists in the first half, finalized her selection.