Elohim Prandi’s equalizing goal. Photo: Ludvig Thunman / BILDBYRÅN
The nightmare half ruined for Sweden, this match was handball in a nutshell and the pair of referees did not impress. Here are Ola Selby’s three points after France beat Sweden 34-30.
The Nightmare Half
Sweden was completely outplayed in the first half. No chance at all. France was better than Sweden in just about everything. Then Sweden would have had to play much better to have a chance in this match, regardless of how they performed in the second half.
Handball in a nutshell
But it is also handball in a nutshell. Two completely different halves where everything completely turned around in the second. Sweden played fantastically throughout and deserved more than they got. But then the end was also, unfortunately, handball in a nutshell.
The verdicts did not help Sweden
When Sweden went towards victory, it was more or less complete, the referees judged a step fault on Jim Gottfridsson. It was very doubtful. Then France had the chance to equalise, but Felix Claar arranged for a stormer foul. We all thought. But the judge couple proposed. Instead, France received a free-throw at the final whistle and Elohim Prandi set it up incredibly nicely. But Prandi did not take the free throw in a regular manner, something the referees missed. They also did not choose to use video, as they are allowed to do.
The judge couple? Nikolov and Nachevski. Recognizable name? Not much has been written or said positively about those gentlemen in recent years.
