PHOTO: Bildbyrån
Sweden manages to salvage a much-deserved EC bronze.
After Andreas Palicka played great once again.
But afterwards, a clear story was directed from Blågult.
Sweden was so incredibly close to a second straight EC final but fell after a very controversial refereeing decision in Friday’s semi-final against France. Blågult was really annoyed afterwards and also filed a protest, which was later rejected.
Palicka hero
Therefore, they had to swallow the disappointment quickly and recharge for Sunday’s bronze medal match against Germany. Where the Swedish players did not disappoint despite a huge home support for the host nation.
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Andreas Palicka stepped forward, as so many times before, and was the best when it mattered most. The goalkeeper hero played great between the posts and managed to help Sweden to a very strong victory with 34-31.
Swedish anger
EC bronze and an Olympic place secured must still be seen as good plasters on the wounds after the disappointing semi-final loss. After the final whistle, the players were also more happy for the Olympic ticket than for the medal, because they had wanted so much more than bronze.
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Now a clear giant anger is directed at how it turned out in the handball EC.
– Incredibly nice. We set out to make it to the Olympics and we succeeded. That was the goal, this tournament is already a bit passé for us. It died a little in the semi-finals, I admit Jonathan Carlsbogård for Expressen.
– I just feel that the tournament was a disaster, it didn’t quite turn out the way we wanted – as everyone knows. The focus was on the Olympics.
“Being surprised”
Even the teammate Felix Claar agree.
– I only had the Olympics in my head on the way here, he says to the evening newspaper.
READ MORE: Huge criticism of Hockeyväll in SVT – now sees both Håkan Loob and Dusan Umicevic: “So hopelessly idiotic”
The Viaplay expert Johanna Ahlm is still surprised by the reaction of the Swedish players after the final whistle.
– I was surprised because I thought you had made it to the Olympics in the qualifying group you ended up in. A medal is still always a medal, but it’s also hard to get a question like that right after a match and right now the bronze might feel a little strange when you wanted it stand in a completely different match today, she says in Viaplay’s studio.
Later on Sunday, France won the European Championship final against Denmark. Both teams, together with Sweden, are ready for the Summer Olympics in Paris in 2024.
Did Sweden deserve more than an EC bronze? Share the article and have your say!
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