In a sold-out arena – 11,800 spectators – there was a Swede who wanted to see a blue-yellow opening fiasco: the legend and former Swedish national team captain Staffan Olsson, who has been coaching the Netherlands since the fall of 2022 and put pressure on Sweden in the European Championship group stage in Germany two years ago.
Now the Dutch hung on for just under 23 minutes – then HK Malmö's top scorer Nikola Roganovic stepped in and made his championship debut with a bang.
Goal-rich duo
When the left-back stepped through and made it 12–10 for Blågult, the roof almost lifted in the arena. A few minutes later, the 19-year-old turned and was brought down in a free position by Netherlands playmaker Luc Steins. After a video review, the Paris Saint-Germain star was given a match penalty and the wind went out of Olsson's supporters.
Super talent Roganovic, who will turn professional this summer with Bundesliga team Gummersbach, coolly converted the penalty to make it 13–11. Lukas Sandell added another before Roganovic finished the half with two more penalty goals and Sweden led 16–12 at halftime.
During the first half, it was clear that Blågult had a sharp right-side lineup. Before Roganovic stepped in, his positional colleague Eric Johansson had scored five times for Sweden, with Mikael Appelgren trusted in goal.
Ice cold from the penalty spot
The opening match victory was never threatened in the second half.
The playmaker Felix Claar, who missed the World Cup last year due to injury, continued to be an offensive force and finished as top scorer with eight goals.
It was nice. It's been a long time since I felt this nervous before a match, so I felt like something fun was going to happen, and it really was. I tried to enjoy myself and have a good match, Claar said to Viaplay.
Roganovic remained ice-cold on his championship debut. When he scored to make it 28–22, it was with a lob penalty, giving the 19-year-old a total of seven goals.
Sweden ultimately won 36–31 and have had a perfect start to their home European Championship.
"I think we controlled the game very well; they never really got close. Of course there are many things that can be improved," Claar said after the victory.
In their second European Championship match, Sweden face Georgia on Monday.
