SwedenLivingWorld world_2_fill WorldBusiness BusinessSports sports-soccer SportsEntertainmentEntertain

Swedish Sensation: "Still Wondering What Happened"

Sweden could not have had a better start to the Olympics. 32-28 against the gold favorite Norway was a mighty display of strength from the blue-yellow handball ladies. What can you say? A very good start, of course, says Nathalie Hagman.

» Updated: July 26 2024

» Published: July 25 2024

Swedish Sensation: "Still Wondering What Happened"
Photo: Jonas Ekströmer/TT

Sweden couldn't have had a better start to the Olympics.

32–28 against the gold favorite Norway was a powerful statement from the blue and yellow handball ladies.

What can you say? A very good start, of course, says Nathalie Hagman.

Dumb things to do against one of the world's best handball teams:

+ Not scoring a goal for over seven minutes.

+ Losing both their center players.

+ Getting a red card with only minutes left to play.

It was as if Sweden really tried to lose the Olympic premiere. It just didn't work.

I'm still wondering what just happened, says Sweden's Linn Blohm after Thursday's upset win, 32–28.

In a swinging first half, goalkeeper veteran Johanna Bundsen initially lined up saves and even scored a goal. Sweden had a three-goal lead at one point, but Norway came back and took the lead 17–15 after 30 minutes.

"Saves us"

The second half started catastrophically for Sweden, which didn't score a goal for over seven minutes. That Norway was still within reach goal-wise – at most leading 19–15 – the outfield players could thank Bundsen for.

She saves us in many situations today. I think we step up our defense in the second half and get them where we want them. But they still manage to get the ball and when they finally get to 100% situations, Bundsen takes them. Without her, we wouldn't have won, says Linn Blohm.

When Blohm got her third two-minute penalty early in the second half, Sweden was out of center players. The other, Sofia Hvenfelt, had already been injured in the first half.

But it feels like it was the best thing that could happen today, that I got the red card, because something happened there. Everyone just came together as a team and kept going. So I just sat there and enjoyed it, I got goosebumps. Everything we've trained on, everything worked, says Blohm.

Middle player Carin Strömberg and right winger Emma Lindqvist had to fill in and did it with honor. At the same time, Nathalie Hagman got going.

With over 800 national team goals in her bag, she knows how to find the net. In principle, on her own, she took Sweden back into the match and equalized to 22–22 with 17 minutes left to play.

Now I think it's best with center players in that position, but today I think things work and then a lot goes our way. Today we have flow, and that was enough to win against Norway, says Hagman.

Tough red card

All the way up to 27–27, it was completely even. Then Emma Lindqvist got a red card with only minutes left to play, and Norway got the chance to decide.

Instead, Nina Koppang and Jamina Roberts scored each goal in numerical inferiority and gave Sweden a two-goal lead.

With less than two minutes left, Nina Koppang punctuated the match with Sweden's 30th goal.

Sweden won in the end with 32–28 and thus defeated Norway for the first time since 2017.

Next up for Sweden is Germany on Sunday. The Germans started just like Norway with an unexpected loss, 22–23 against South Korea.

Group A: Norway, Germany, Slovenia, Sweden, Denmark, South Korea.

Group B: Hungary, Netherlands, Spain, France, Brazil, Angola.

The top four in each group advance to the quarterfinals.

Sweden's matches (all in Paris):

25 July: Norway 32–28.

28 July: Germany (14.00).

30 July: Denmark (21.00).

1 August: South Korea (11.00).

3 August: Slovenia (16.00).

Quarterfinals, semifinals, and medal matches will be played in Lille on 6, 8, and 10 August.

Tags

TTT
By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

More news

Referee Injured in SHL Qualifier, Match Continues with Three Officials
1 MIN READ

Referee Injured in SHL Qualifier, Match Continues with Three Officials

Iran Secures World Championship Spot with Saman Ghoddos on Squad
1 MIN READ

Iran Secures World Championship Spot with Saman Ghoddos on Squad

New Olympic Bobsleigh Track Opens in Cortina After Rapid Build
1 MIN READ

New Olympic Bobsleigh Track Opens in Cortina After Rapid Build

Nabil Bahoui Returns to Allsvenskan with Brommapojkarna Debut
1 MIN READ

Nabil Bahoui Returns to Allsvenskan with Brommapojkarna Debut

Sara Hector Claims Bronze in World Championship Giant Slalom Final
1 MIN READ

Sara Hector Claims Bronze in World Championship Giant Slalom Final

Sweden Sets New World Championship Record with 31-0 Win Over Hungary
1 MIN READ

Sweden Sets New World Championship Record with 31-0 Win Over Hungary

World Athletics to Implement Saliva Gender Tests for Female Competitors
2 MIN READ

World Athletics to Implement Saliva Gender Tests for Female Competitors

Hybrid Grass Revitalizes Sweden's National Football Arena
2 MIN READ

Hybrid Grass Revitalizes Sweden's National Football Arena

Sweden's Maja Nyhlén Persson Out, Hanna Olsson Returns for World Championship
2 MIN READ

Sweden's Maja Nyhlén Persson Out, Hanna Olsson Returns for World Championship

Crocodiles in River Spark Concerns for Brisbane 2032 Olympic Rowing
2 MIN READ

Crocodiles in River Spark Concerns for Brisbane 2032 Olympic Rowing

Swedish Rookie Lekkerimäki Shines in Vancouver's NHL Victory
1 MIN READ

Swedish Rookie Lekkerimäki Shines in Vancouver's NHL Victory

Ebba Andersson Joins Ski Classics for Norwegian Long-Distance Races
1 MIN READ

Ebba Andersson Joins Ski Classics for Norwegian Long-Distance Races

Ilia Malinin Dedicates World Championship to Fallen Skating Friends
2 MIN READ

Ilia Malinin Dedicates World Championship to Fallen Skating Friends

Swedish Sniper Söderblom Shines in Detroit's Victory Over Utah
2 MIN READ

Swedish Sniper Söderblom Shines in Detroit's Victory Over Utah

20-Year-Old Goalie Blomgren Shines in Malmö's Playoff Victory
2 MIN READ

20-Year-Old Goalie Blomgren Shines in Malmö's Playoff Victory

KAJ Concerts in Vasa Push Hockey Games to Reschedule
1 MIN READ

KAJ Concerts in Vasa Push Hockey Games to Reschedule

Finland's World Cup Hopes Dented by Lithuania's Stunning Equalizer
1 MIN READ

Finland's World Cup Hopes Dented by Lithuania's Stunning Equalizer

Norwegian Ski Jumping Scandal: Geiger Calls for Stricter Penalties
1 MIN READ

Norwegian Ski Jumping Scandal: Geiger Calls for Stricter Penalties

Billionaire Carl Bennet Withdraws HBK Sponsorship Over Firecracker Use
1 MIN READ

Billionaire Carl Bennet Withdraws HBK Sponsorship Over Firecracker Use

Duplantis Prioritizes Training Over Royal Medal Ceremony
1 MIN READ

Duplantis Prioritizes Training Over Royal Medal Ceremony

Victor Lindelöf Faces Uncertain Future Beyond Manchester United
2 MIN READ

Victor Lindelöf Faces Uncertain Future Beyond Manchester United

Sweden Seeks Redemption Against Northern Ireland in Solna Showdown
2 MIN READ

Sweden Seeks Redemption Against Northern Ireland in Solna Showdown

Sweden Seeks Redemption Against Northern Ireland After Luxembourg Loss
2 MIN READ

Sweden Seeks Redemption Against Northern Ireland After Luxembourg Loss

Malmö FF Secures Home Advantage for Swedish Cup Final Against Häcken
1 MIN READ

Malmö FF Secures Home Advantage for Swedish Cup Final Against Häcken

Östersunds FK Secures Superettan Spot with Financial Boost
1 MIN READ

Östersunds FK Secures Superettan Spot with Financial Boost

Russian Tennis Prodigy Faces Online Backlash After Miami Loss
1 MIN READ

Russian Tennis Prodigy Faces Online Backlash After Miami Loss

Lucas Bergvall to Miss Sweden's Match Against Northern Ireland
1 MIN READ

Lucas Bergvall to Miss Sweden's Match Against Northern Ireland

Norwegian Coach's Trial Begins as TikTok Influencers Ejected from Courtroom
3 MIN READ

Norwegian Coach's Trial Begins as TikTok Influencers Ejected from Courtroom

New Zealand Secures World Cup Spot as PL Star Chris Wood Injured
2 MIN READ

New Zealand Secures World Cup Spot as PL Star Chris Wood Injured

Carlsson Suspended for Two Games After Costly Cross-Checking Penalty
1 MIN READ

Carlsson Suspended for Two Games After Costly Cross-Checking Penalty

Norway to Play Israel in World Cup Qualifier, Rejects Boycott Calls
2 MIN READ

Norway to Play Israel in World Cup Qualifier, Rejects Boycott Calls

Norwegian Coach Gjert Ingebrigtsen Faces Trial Over Abuse Allegations
3 MIN READ

Norwegian Coach Gjert Ingebrigtsen Faces Trial Over Abuse Allegations

Dahlin Leads Buffalo to Victory Over Winnipeg with Key Goal
1 MIN READ

Dahlin Leads Buffalo to Victory Over Winnipeg with Key Goal

Spain and France Set for Nations League Semifinal Showdown
1 MIN READ

Spain and France Set for Nations League Semifinal Showdown

Italy's Costly Error Sends Germany to Nations League Semifinals
1 MIN READ

Italy's Costly Error Sends Germany to Nations League Semifinals

Modo on the Brink of SHL Relegation After Costly Penalty
2 MIN READ

Modo on the Brink of SHL Relegation After Costly Penalty

Real Madrid Women Secure Historic First El Clasico Victory Over Barcelona
1 MIN READ

Real Madrid Women Secure Historic First El Clasico Victory Over Barcelona

Lindsey Vonn Shines with Podium Finish at World Championship
1 MIN READ

Lindsey Vonn Shines with Podium Finish at World Championship

Häcken Stumbles in Premiere Loss to Malmö FF, Coach Expresses Disappointment
2 MIN READ

Häcken Stumbles in Premiere Loss to Malmö FF, Coach Expresses Disappointment

Malmö FF Stuns Häcken with Late Goal in Women's Allsvenskan Return
3 MIN READ

Malmö FF Stuns Häcken with Late Goal in Women's Allsvenskan Return