In the shadow of the semifinals of the Women's Handball European Championship, Tomas Axnérs Swedish national team played a placement match against the Netherlands, fighting for fifth place. A Netherlands team coached by the Swedish former national team captain Henrik Signell.
And it became a tight fight.
The teams kept pace with each other from start to finish, all the way to the final minute. A small margin was all that was required, and Sweden, and above all Emma Lindqvist, delivered. The Swedish nine-meter player scored several crucial goals in the final stages.
"Still up there"
Sweden held on and won in the end with 33–32, and thus Sweden finishes fifth.
I think it still shows in some way that we're still up there, even though it doesn't exactly work as we wish and want. That we can still stand here as fifth, says Jenny Carlson to Viaplay.
Unfortunately for Sweden, the match played no further role for future championships, but rather a star in the periphery placement-wise.
"I'm proud"
But for some, the match was a bigger milestone than others.
Jamina Roberts made her 254th national team appearance on Friday evening, which means she ties Åsa Mogensen's 22-year-old record for most national team appearances on the women's side.
It's clear that I'm proud, but I haven't really thought about it that much, people have reminded me of it. But it's something you'll look back on and be proud of. It feels good that I take the record on a Friday here in Vienna, says she to Viaplay.
Tonight's semifinals saw Norway defeat Hungary 30–22. Now a Nordic final awaits on Sunday, as Denmark won a much tighter semifinal – 24–22 against France.
