Sweden’s Handball Team Under Intense Pressure After EM Defeat to Iceland

Sweden's national handball team finds itself under significant pressure during the European Championship (EM) after a critical loss to Iceland. This defeat has placed Sweden in a precarious position where they must secure consecutive wins to advance to the semifinals.

Currently, four teams in Sweden’s group hold the same number of points — four — intensifying the competition. Iceland leads the group with four points and a +8 goal difference, followed by Sweden (+4), Slovenia (+2), and Croatia (-3). Hungary and Switzerland hover at the bottom with one point each. The must-win match for Sweden is against Hungary, scheduled for Tuesday, January 28th, at 20:30 in Malmö Arena.

Sweden’s history against Hungary is encouraging; they have won the last six competitive meetings, including notable victories at the 2020 European Championship and the 2023 World Championship, offering a hopeful context for the upcoming game. Success in this encounter is crucial as only the top two teams from the group will progress to the semifinals, set to take place in Herning on January 30th, with the bronze match and final on February 1st.

Coach Michael Apelgren has openly acknowledged the challenge ahead, emphasizing that “the ball is in our hands, so we just have to work forward.” He also reflected on the earlier loss to Iceland, citing how Sweden was tactically outplayed during that match, which has increased the urgency for the team to perform decisively against Hungary.

Sweden’s roster includes key players such as goalkeepers Andreas Palicka, Mikael Appelgren, and Fabian Norsten. The team’s outlook remains focused on overcoming setbacks and capitalizing on their previous advantageous record over Hungary to secure their place in the semifinals.

As the group stage continues with other concurrent matches between Switzerland vs. Iceland and Slovenia vs. Croatia, Sweden’s fate depends heavily on its performance in the upcoming critical fixture. The next days will determine if Sweden can reclaim its footing or face early elimination from the European Championship.