In the latest World Championship (2023), Sweden's bandy men also started with a match against Norway. That time it ended 16-2 in favor of Sweden.
When this year's World Championship kicked off at Lidköping Arena on Monday evening, it resulted in a new blue-yellow premiere win, clear 9-3 in the end. But first after a match start that even surprised the Norwegians.
I don't think it's ever happened before. Have we even scored two goals sometime, wondered Norway's Felix Callander in Expressen's TV broadcast after the first half.
"Starting tamely"
Marius Mørch Andersen set 1-0 for Norway on the match's first corner in the 15th minute. Shortly after, Edsbyn's 18-year-old talent Tyler Myrmo scored 2-0.
We're starting a bit tamely. We're losing the ball in several places and it's becoming counter-attacks, said Swedish World Championship debutant Vladimir In-Fa-Lin after the first half.
By then, Sweden had still turned the tables with two goals by Christoffer Edlund and one by Christoffer Fagerström.
Many cancelled World Championships
After the break, there was no discussion. With three quick goals, Sweden settled the match and could comfortably collect a expected premiere win.
It's only the second time in five years that a bandy World Championship is being held. In 2020 and 2021, the championship was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, and the following year Russia's invasion of Ukraine stopped it. Last year, there was no World Championship because no organizer was found.
Sweden's men continue the World Championship with a match against Hungary on Tuesday. Then the women also enter the championship, with a premiere match against Norway.
