Sweden's women's handball team prepares for the 2025 World Championship aiming to break the medal drought since 2014 European Championship. Star player Nathalie Hagman could make history by reaching 1000 goals for the national team during the tournament. She looks forward to achieving the milestone in a major event.
Sweden's women's handball team has not won a championship medal since the 2014 European Championship, a period dubbed the medal curse. They now face the 2025 World Championship, hoping for a turnaround. A guide from Dagens Nyheter summarizes everything essential ahead of the tournament, including the team's challenges and opportunities.
One key player is Nathalie Hagman, who was dropped from the national team early in her career due to her spectacular playing style, described as a circus horse. Today, she is an established star nearing the dream milestone of 1000 goals for Sweden. During the World Championship, she could reach this mark and become one of few players to achieve it.
"It would be fun to do it now in the championship and not in some obscure qualifier in the spring," she tells Dagens Nyheter.
Hagman's performances could be crucial for Sweden's chances to break the curse. The tournament is expected to be a significant test for the team after years away from the podium.