Sweden Narrowly Misses Medals, Finishes Sixth at Handball EM 2026

The Swedish men's handball team concluded their campaign in the 2026 European Championship with a sixth-place finish following a narrow 36-35 defeat to Portugal in the placement match. The tightly contested game saw both teams tied 14-14 at halftime and remained evenly matched until the final moments. With just six seconds remaining, Portugal scored the decisive goal, denying Sweden a chance to advance further or compete for medals.

Swedish players and officials expressed disappointment at the final result, which fell short of expectations. Hampus Wanne reflected on the match, saying, "We throw away a ball, they get a block and a counter-attack, and then they win the match." Mikael Appelgren, the Swedish goalkeeper, voiced his frustration, especially as this was the final match for veteran goalkeeper Andreas Palicka, who announced his retirement from international play following the game. Palicka’s departure marks the end of a remarkable career, with Swedish handball expert Claes Hellgren praising him as a spectacular goalkeeper whose replacement will be a big challenge.

On a positive note, the match included the championship debut of 25-year-old Edwin Aspenbäck, who scored his first goal, marking an encouraging sign for the team’s future. Aspenbäck stated that he enjoyed the experience despite the loss.

Sweden's journey saw them finish third in their main round group, ultimately missing out on the semifinals, which are set to feature Germany vs. Croatia and Denmark vs. Iceland later in the tournament. Despite the setback, Sweden has already qualified for next year’s World Championship, providing an opportunity to regroup and build on their performance.