After victories against the Netherlands, Georgia, Croatia and Slovenia, Sweden had the chance to take a giant step towards the semi-finals with a victory against Iceland.
Instead, it was a stinging and worrying heavy loss, 27–35, in front of a large crowd in Malmö.
"I feel empty. I'm disappointed, of course. We wanted more today, but they were better than us," says Oscar Bergendahl to Viaplay.
Sweden got off to a bad start, especially with Felix Claar. The often brilliant midfielder started by being sent off almost immediately and was later left in pain after a tough tackle when an Icelander ran into him.
Six-goal deficit at halftime
Once Claar returned to play more regularly, both he and Sweden had problems. It was sloppy, it was difficult to get a finish. Even the previously so sure Nikola Roganovic had a tough time from the penalty line. Viktor Gísli Hallgrímsson saved two of three penalties from the 19-year-old shooting star and at halftime Iceland, cheered on by loud away fans, had snatched an 18–12 lead.
Felix Claar was left speechless so far.
And Sweden is in trouble after their worst half so far in the European Championship.
"We were too weak in the first contact at the back, especially. It's really bad. We talked about it before, that we would be tough there, and I don't think we succeeded at all," says Albin Lagergren to Viaplay.
Near reversal
In the second half, there was a real upswing at first.
Andreas Palicka, who replaced Mikael Appelgren in the first half, got the crowd going with a few saves in what was his 41st European Championship match of his career (a new Swedish record). Things started to loosen up more and more as the game progressed. When Felix Claar scored to make it 20–21, his first goal of the match, Sweden had scored four in a row and were seriously back in the game.
But this was Iceland's game. National coach Michael Apelgren was forced to take a timeout with less than ten minutes left, as Iceland had pulled away again to lead 28–24.
Then Sweden didn't have the strength to force a final push.
Four teams – Sweden, Iceland, Slovenia and Croatia (who meet Switzerland later tonight) – each have one loss in the intermediate round in Malmö.
Sweden finishes with matches against Hungary (Tuesday) and Switzerland (Wednesday). Two wins there are enough, after all, to guarantee a place in the European Championship semi-finals in Herning, Denmark, on Friday.
