There was a period where stars in the men's national team declined invitations to championships and international matches, but the women's handball team has never been affected by the same phenomenon.
Why?
I get called, says star Jamina Roberts in a way that makes the question feel completely foreign.
We have a lot of fun together and we really want to achieve something with this team, and then it's maybe not the right way to go if two or three decline because it's not fun. Then we'll never move forward.
"Not like Norway"
Roberts is participating in her 18th championship and Nathalie Hagman is in her 15th international tournament. Behind them lies great experience in the form of Linn Blohm (14), Carin Strömberg (13), and Johanna Bundsen (12).
Besides camaraderie, it's the pursuit of a medal that drives everyone forward, believes Roberts.
It's clear that you can be proud and satisfied with your career, but we're not like Norway. You're not fed up with medals directly. A medal is absolutely something, above all, we old ones dream of getting before we retire.
Both Roberts and Hagman made their debut in the European Championship 2010. It ended with the women's national team's first medal in the form of silver, and it was also European Championship bronze in 2014. Since then: twelve medal-less championships with four lost bronze matches.
The Olympic Games are the time we've been closest, says right-back Hagman.
In Paris last summer, Sweden was extremely close to an Olympic final and a secured medal, but France equalized with 14 seconds left to play and won the semifinal in overtime. In the bronze match, Norway won clearly.
Approaching the record
The loss against France is one of the worst in my career. I had a hard time letting it go after the Olympic Games. I hope this championship can give us a medal – that it's finally our turn, says Hagman.
Roberts is now approaching Magnus Wislander's record of 18 championships. She can also approach Åsa Mogensen's (formerly Eriksson) national team record on the women's side with 254 blue and yellow appearances. If Sweden reaches the medal matches in the European Championship and if Roberts plays all matches.
I don't compare myself to others. I just keep going. Then it feels a bit in my knees that I've done 18, says the 34-year-old.
After the big loss against Hungary, it looks tough for Sweden to finish top two in the intermediate round, where the team starts against Poland on Thursday.
Corrected version: Previously, the wrong opponent was stated in the bronze match at this year's Olympic Games in the fact box with championship statistics.
Daniel Kihlström/TT
Facts: The intermediate round in the European Championship in handball
TT
The intermediate round in the European Championship in handball for women is waiting. The teams bring points from internal matches against the team that also advanced from the first group stage. Top two in the intermediate round get to play the semifinal.
Sweden's matches:
Thursday: Poland (3:30 pm).
Friday: Romania (3:30 pm).
Sunday: France (8:30 pm).
Tuesday: Montenegro (8:30 pm).
Standings in group 1: 1) France 2 points (+13 in goal difference), 2) Hungary 2 (+7), 3) Montenegro 2 (+2), 4) Romania 0 (–2), 5) Sweden 0 (–7), Poland 0 (–13).
Standings in group 2: 1) Norway 2 points (+7), 2) Netherlands 2 (+7), 3) Denmark 2 (+5), 4) Switzerland 0 (–5), 5) Slovenia 0 (–7), 6) Germany 0 (–7).
+ Jamina Roberts, 34 years old, left nine: Participating in her 18th championship. Debut in the European Championship 2010. 4 Olympic Games, 6 World Championships, 8 European Championships. Medals: European Championship silver 2010 and European Championship bronze 2014.
+ Nathalie Hagman, 33, right-back: 15th championship. Debut in the European Championship 2010. 3 Olympic Games, 5 World Championships, 7 European Championships. Medals: European Championship silver 2010 and European Championship bronze 2014.
+ Linn Blohm, 32, center-back: 14th championship. Debut in the European Championship 2012. 3 Olympic Games, 4 World Championships, 7 European Championships. Medals: European Championship bronze 2014.
+ Carin Strömberg, 31, center-nine: 13th championship. Debut in the World Championship 2015. 3 Olympic Games, 5 World Championships, 5 European Championships. Medals: None.
+ Johanna Bundsen, 33, goalkeeper: 12th championship. Debut in the European Championship 2014. 3 Olympic Games, 4 World Championships, 5 European Championships. Medals: European Championship bronze 2014.
Sweden's women's national handball team has taken two medals in championships – European Championship silver 2010 and European Championship bronze 2014. Here are the results since the last medal:
World Championship 2015: Ninth.
Olympic Games 2016: Seventh.
European Championship 2016: Eighth.
World Championship 2017: Fourth. Lost the bronze match against the Netherlands with 21–24.
European Championship 2018: Sixth.
World Championship 2019: Seventh.
European Championship 2020: Eleventh.
Olympic Games 2021: Fourth. Lost the bronze match against Norway with 19–36.
World Championship 2021: Fifth.
European Championship 2022: Fifth.
World Championship 2023: Fourth. Lost the bronze match against Denmark with 27–28.
Olympic Games 2024: Fourth. Lost the bronze match against Denmark with 25–30.
