Sweden was already eliminated, as was Norway. The prestige match in Oslo was instead about getting a good finish to a failed championship and beating the neighboring country.
In those parts, Norway was clearly superior.
The Norwegians started briskly and strongly, took an early grip on the match – and it was largely thanks to a weak Sweden.
Blue-yellow was down 11-16 at halftime, pulled themselves together but ultimately lost by five goals.
A defeat that became Swedish handball history.
Worst ever
The men's national team finished 14th – a placement that is the worst ever in World Championship terms.
We have fought and done everything we can, says national team coach Michael Apelgren to Viaplay.
It's going to be a tough time ahead and there will be negative winds blowing. For us to turn this around after a successful period and after all the history will be very tough.
Sweden started the World Championship with two straight wins, against Japan and Chile, but that was it. After the loss in the crucial match against Brazil, the chance of reaching the quarterfinals was gone.
I think we should be able to perform better than this. It's not time to make excuses, it hasn't been good enough, says Apelgren.
"A failure"
Sebastian Karlsson:
We're not good enough today or in the previous match, it's frustrating. We have it in us but can't get it out, he says to Viaplay.
We played fantastic attacking handball in the beginning of the tournament, then it fizzled out. It's hard not to say that it's a big disappointment and a failure that we don't make it to the quarterfinal.
