After a 32–32 draw against Hungary in Malmö Arena, there is strong evidence that Sweden will be eliminated from the European Handball Championship as early as Wednesday.
The draw against the already eliminated Hungarians means that Sweden is third in the intermediate round – after both Croatia and Iceland.
The situation would have been completely different if Andreas Palicka had managed to hit the target in the last trembling seconds of the match. Hungary, who had pulled their goalkeeper, missed their last attack attempt, and from long range the 39-year-old Swedish national team veteran tried to decide the match.
“Unfortunately I missed it”
But the long shot towards the empty goal went wide.
Actually, I only have time to look at the scoreboard before they start playing around the ball, I see that there are 13 seconds left. When I pick up the ball, I think there could be between one and five seconds left. So I think I have to shoot. And I do. Unfortunately, I missed, and it's bitter, says Palicka about the final second drama.
Teammate Max Darj noted that this is a situation that Andreas Palicka puts "nine times out of ten".
“Very disappointed”
The goalkeeper profile did not object to the shot attempt that could have given continued command in the group. At the same time, it was Sweden's lackluster performance – the second straight in the European Championship – that meant that things were generally even until the end.
Very disappointed with our efforts in the last few matches. I don't think we manage to play the handball we want to, neither in defence nor in attack.
It's bitter now that we've squandered the chance. It's not fun, says "Palle."
To reach the European Championship semi-finals, Sweden needs either Iceland (against Slovenia) or Croatia (against Hungary) to drop points.
Both matches are played before Sweden meets Switzerland, a match where, in the worst-case scenario, Sweden could already be eliminated before that game.
We'll try to lick our wounds tonight and then try to put in a performance we can be proud of tomorrow (against Switzerland). Then we'll see where it goes from there.
