The Swedish handball ladies are charging for the group final against Croatia. Johanna Bundsen believes in a fast-paced event.
– Croatia will have a bit more ball pace in their attacking game, says Bundsen.
Sweden comes with a full pot to Tuesday’s meeting with Croatia. Two victories against China and Senegal have given the home team a great start to the World Cup.
– We have got into it well. It has been different opposition to what you are used to, and good matches for us to get. We have to be satisfied with four points, he says Johanna Bundsen.
The Swedish goalkeeper stood the entire match against Senegal. So far in the WC, she has 19 saves in 42 finishes.
– 60 minutes of playing time, you are always ready for. Of course you want to play. Calculating percentages is not something I think about in the heat of the moment. I think I have a little more to give. I’m not really happy with the first half against Senegal.
Just like most handball goalkeepers, Bundsen spends a lot of time analyzing his own performances and mapping upcoming opponents.
– There are always a few hours of preparation. I sit and watch the matches afterwards and then I watch quite a lot of clips of our upcoming opponents.
For Sweden, the next opponent is Croatia. The bronze medalists from EC 2020 will be a tough nut to crack for Sweden.
– It will be a different pace tomorrow (read Tuesday) compared to Sunday’s match against Senegal. We want to play an aggressive and hard defensive game, and Croatia will have a bit more ball pace in their attacking game. So hopefully it will be a match picture that we are a little more used to. It will probably feel a bit more like a normal handball match.
During her time in the A national team, Johanna Bundsen has never lost against Croatia. Five wins is the result.
– I hardly remember our last match against them (EC 2022, editor’s note). But it feels good that we have five wins over them.
During the past autumn, Johanna Bunden played in the EHF Champions League together with IK Sävehof. According to Bundsen himself, the European Cup game is useful for form.
– The CL matches have been good for me. It is important to face that type of player on a daily basis. I feel like I have a pretty good fall season behind me. I am relatively satisfied with my effort at home in Sävehof. I feel pretty confident in my game and don’t overthink it. Now it’s just a matter of continuing on that track.
The mother club is spelled the ancient GF Kroppskultur from Uddevalla.
– It really is a handball town. The reason I got into handball was because so many people in my class played handball. I had many friends in the sport. Actually, we were a football family, remembers Bundsen, who continues:
– I remember when you ran around the hall in Uddevalla on the weekends when there was a match. It was always the highlight of the week. I only have good memories from my time there, says Bundsen, who left “Kropps” for Sävehof at the age of 16.
Return in the group final between Sweden and Croatia takes place at 20:30 on Tuesday evening in Scandinavium.
JOHANNA BUNDSEN’S FACILITY AGAINST CROATIA
16 November 2022: Croatia, 31–27
7 June 2017: Croatia, 35–28
June 14, 2015: Croatia, 27–21
7 June 2015: Croatia, 24–23
8 December 2014: Croatia, 30–28
Text: Olof Thyrelius Ericson
Photo: Bildbyrån
2023-12-05 09:53:41
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