Swedish big victory in the EC – fourth straight victory

Three matches remain in the intermediate round, but it is certainly starting to smell a bit of a semi-final about the national handball team, which has an EC gold medal to defend from 2022.

Sweden and Denmark – who meet in the next match on Friday – are the only two unbeaten teams in the group. For Sweden, the effort against Slovenia was also a steady step in the right direction after the narrow and nerve-wracking victory last time against the Netherlands.

Palicka shone

Then Andreas Palicka became the hero with some important saves at the end.

Two days later, and after the move from Mannheim to Hamburg, the 37-year-old team captain continued where he left off.

In the first half hour, Palicka saved nine shots – and only conceded seven. Skåningen’s save percentage of 56 in the first half was well-timed, because while the defense and Palicka impressed, the offense was a bit sloppy at the same time.

Sweden started as a change with the “second line” of nine meters, with Felix Claar as the middle nine. But Blågult had difficulty scoring some simple goals. Not even from the seven-meter line were they lucky: Lucas Pellas, Sebastian Karlsson and Hampus Wanne had to see where their penalty was saved and Slovenia was in command until 6-5.

In roughly the same vein, Sweden replaced Jim Gottfridsson & Co, the usual first line-up. Then it also loosened forward.

Decided early after the break

Sweden was 11-7 at half-time – after a period with five straight goals – and when the second half started with four more blue-and-yellow goals, the Slovenians had no answer.

Palicka was replaced with about a quarter of an hour left and had an ice pack on his left foot for a while, but he seemed to be in good spirits despite that.

Slovenia, just like Sweden, had two points to the intermediate round, so a Swedish loss could have been costly before the continuation of the tournament. Now Blågult instead goes into the meeting with Denmark without the pressure of having to win.

And with a feeling that the EC form is on the rise.