The Polish women's handball team lost 24:32 (12:16) to the reigning world and Olympic champions, Norway, in Lubin as part of the EHF Euro Cup. Despite a spirited performance from the White and Reds in the first half, the experienced opponents dominated the second part of the match. The most effective player for Poland was Magda Balsam, who scored 6 goals, while Henny Reistad and Nora Mørk shone for the visitors.

Favorites Win in Lubin

Norway defeated Poland 32:24, controlling the match from the middle of the first half thanks to better efficiency and fewer mistakes.

Magda Balsam's Efficiency

The Polish wing player was the brightest spot for her team, scoring 6 goals and maintaining high efficiency in one-on-one situations.

Dominance of Norwegian Stars

Henny Reistad and Nora Mørk confirmed their status as the world's best players, dictating the pace of the game and ruthlessly exploiting gaps in the Polish defense.

The match played on March 5, 2026, at the RCS hall in Lubin ended with a 32:24 victory for Norway. The Polish handball players posed a tough challenge to the favorites only in the first part of the match, going into halftime with a four-goal deficit (12:16). The Norwegians, playing as the current world champions and Olympic gold medalists, confirmed their class in the second half, building a safe lead thanks to a series of counterattacks. Coach Arne Senstadt rotated the squad, giving substitutes a chance, but the class gap between the two teams was especially visible in shooting efficiency and defensive organization. Norwegian women's handball has dominated the international arena since the 1980s, winning over 30 medals in total at the Olympic Games, World Championships, and European Championships since then. The training system in Scandinavia is considered a model for the development of mass sports combined with professionalism. In the Polish team, Magda Balsam (6 goals) and Monika Kobylińska (4 goals) deserved recognition for trying to break through the opponents' tight defense. On the Norwegian side, Henny Reistad (7 goals) and Nora Mørk (5 goals from penalties and open play) were unstoppable. The visitors' goalkeeper, Katrine Lunde, recorded a 40% save rate, which significantly hindered the hosts' ability to close the point gap in the final stages of the match. This defeat, though painful in terms of the score, provides valuable analytical material for the coaching staff ahead of the upcoming World Championship qualifiers. The White and Reds showed several interesting plays in positional attack, but their own mistakes and ball losses were immediately punished by the extremely fast Norwegian wing players. The match in Lubin drew a full house, confirming the high popularity of handball in Lower Silesia, which is the cradle of many national team players. The EHF Euro Cup is a key element of the international calendar, allowing the national team to regularly compete with the world's strongest teams. Despite the loss, facing a decorated opponent like Norway is considered by experts to be a necessary step in the process of building a team capable of fighting for top positions in Europe. The next matches in this cycle are scheduled for April, when the Polish team will face Romania in a doubleheader.

Mentioned People

  • Arne Senstadt — Norwegian coach of the Polish women's national handball team.
  • Magda Balsam — Polish handball player, the most effective player in the Polish team during the match.
  • Henny Reistad — Star of the Norwegian national team, considered one of the best players in the world.
  • Nora Mørk — Decorated Norwegian playmaker, a key figure in her team's attack.
  • Monika Kobylińska — Captain of the Polish national team, author of 4 goals in the match against Norway.