Sweden's men's handball team drew 32–32 with Hungary in the EM main round in Malmö, despite a golden opportunity to secure first place. Captain Andreas Palicka missed a decisive shot in the final second against an empty net. Now, Sweden must beat Switzerland and hope for point losses from Croatia or Iceland to reach the semifinals.
In Malmö Arena, Sweden faced Hungary in a crucial Group 2 main round match at the men's handball EM. Sweden entered with a favorable position after Switzerland's draw with Iceland earlier in the day, opening a direct path to the semifinals. Instead, the Swedish players delivered a weak performance, marked by anxiety and passivity in both defense and attack.
The match ended 32–32 after a dramatic finish. At 32–32 with five seconds left, Hungary missed a shot, and Palicka picked up the ball. He shot from long range toward the empty net, but the ball went just wide by a decimeter. 'Unfortunately, I miss and it's bitter,' said the 39-year-old goalkeeper veteran afterward, tears welling in his eyes.
Felix Claar scored ten of Sweden's goals and was the team's engine, but he was deeply disappointed: 'It's piss not to do it better. And if we don't do it better, we're not worthy of going far in the tournament.' The captain expressed frustration over squandering their chance: 'Very disappointed in our performances. It's bitter now that we've played away the chance from our own hands.'
The defense collapsed in two straight matches, including the earlier loss to Iceland. Eric Johansson succeeded with only one of seven shots, and young talent Nikola Roganovic had limited playtime and missed a penalty. Coach Michael Apelgren prioritized experienced defenders, but criticism of the static coaching was evident.
To reach the semifinals, Sweden must defeat Switzerland in their final match, which is played last in the group. At the same time, Croatia needs to drop points against Hungary or Iceland against Slovenia. Both those matches are decided before Sweden's clash with Switzerland, potentially rendering it meaningless if help doesn't come. The tournament is record-even, with the top two in the group advancing to semifinals in Herning, Denmark, on Friday.
Despite the poor showing, some celebrated Iceland's draw with Switzerland, but Sweden failed to capitalize. Attendance in the arena was low, with 7,342 spectators, partly due to high ticket prices.
