(Sweden-Cape Verde 34–27) Glenn Solberg’s gold favorite Sweden won its second World Cup match in the handball championship at home in front of 11,750 spectators – after sweeping Cape Verde off the field in the first half.
However, after the big victory, the Swedes’ star player Jim Gottfridsson was “cursed”, because of what they showed – or didn’t show – in the second half.
– I don’t want to say worried, rather cursed, he answers questions about whether he is – worried – when it comes to Sweden’s game in the last 30 minutes.
– When we offer such a good first half, we can offer at least as good a second half. Especially for the public. Man we win with as much as possible, adds Gottfridsson.
The Swedes won theirs opening match 26–18 over Brazil.
After 30 minutes in the second, they led 19–8 over African Cape Verde in Scandinavium in Gothenburg.
– We are much safer with the ball. The defense is very coordinated now. My feeling is that we feel much safer, says Sweden’s five-goal scorer Hampus Wanne The evening paper.
The Swedes’ Norwegian success coach Glenn Solberg let goalkeeper Andreas Palicka start on the bench. He played big against the Brazilians in the premiere. His replacement, Mikael Appelgren, would obviously not allow himself a weaker performance than his colleague. The 33-year-old saved everything initially, and was strongly involved in Sweden quickly leading 11-2.
– Fantastic first half. Almost perfect. We are very happy with that, says Sweden’s Norwegian national team manager Glenn Solberg.
Cape Verde sensationally won the second half, but Sweden won by seven goals in the end.
– In the second half, we do almost everything we’re not supposed to do. We lose a lot of our concentration. We are not fully connected in the “brain office”. But we win the match, and that was the main goal, says Jim Gottfridsson.
Sweden’s next match in the World Cup is against Uruguay on Monday.
Norway faces Argentina in its second group stage match on Sunday. It is played in Krakow. Sander Sagosen & co. opened the WC with a 12-goal victory over North Macedonia.
Iceland – an outsider among the gold contenders – lost by two goals (28–30) to Hungary on Saturday night.
