PHOTO: Bildbyrån
Sweden enters the handball EC this evening as reigning champions.
Now Magnus Wislander gives his verdict on the blue and yellow national team.
– Sweden is the European champion, but there is a huge favourite, he says to Radiosporten.
Two years ago, all of Sweden stood still Niclas Ekberg stepped forward to take punishment. The score was 26-26 in the EC final against Spain 2022 and the clock had already ticked up to 60 minutes.
Sweden’s EC gold
Then the veteran showed nerves of steel and scored the ice-cold goal that meant European Championship gold for Sweden and a huge cheer erupted on the field. Two years have passed since then and now it’s time for the handball EC again, where Sweden steps in as the reigning champion team.
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The first group stage match against Bosnia & Herzegovina awaits tonight and then the hunt to defend the European Championship gold from two years ago begins. But already on Wednesday evening, the European Handball Championship started with a real premiere party and a new world record for handball audiences, when they played in front of just over 50,000 spectators at a football arena in Düsseldorf.
– A great experience for those who get to play those matches. It’s awesome. I myself have played for around 40,000 and it was an experience called good enough, says Radiosport’s expert Magnus Wislander in a statement.
Wislander’s judgment
The icon Wislander is one of Sweden’s absolute best handball players of all time with an impressive two World Cup golds, four European Championship golds and three Olympic silvers in the national team jersey. Now “Slangen” gives his clear verdict on Blågult’s chances in the championship.
– After all, Sweden is European champion and can hopefully defend it. But at the same time Denmark is a huge favorite, I think, he admits to the radio channel.
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Sweden’s 2022 EC gold was the first gold medal for the men’s national team in 20 long years so expecting a repeat would have been a feat. Now Wislander says what all Swedes are thinking before the handball World Cup and downplays the expectations.
– It will be great fun and it is up to proof for this Swedish team. If you can once again squeeze a match for the medals, it is incredibly well done, says the handball expert in the interview.
How do you think it is going for Sweden in the handball EC? Share the article and have your say!
READ MORE: Handball icon Magnus Wislander reveals his favorite football team – confirming what everyone always suspected
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