Swedish Handball Team Suffers Unexpected Defeat in Friendly Match

Swedish Handball Team Suffers Unexpected Defeat in Friendly MatchSwedish Handball Team Suffers Unexpected Defeat in Friendly Match The Swedish national handball team suffered an unexpected setback on Saturday, falling to a 28-31 defeat against neighboring Norway in a friendly match held in Oslo. Sweden, ranked 4th in the world, was considered the favorite heading into the contest. However, the Norwegian team, despite being ranked 13th, put in a determined performance that caught the Swedes off guard. The match started evenly, with both teams trading goals. However, Norway began to pull away in the second half, taking advantage of Swedish errors and showing a clinical edge in front of goal. Despite a late rally from Sweden, Norway held on to secure the victory. The loss was a disappointment for the Swedish team, who were hoping to use the match as preparation for the upcoming European Championship. “We played well in the first half, but we made too many mistakes in the second,” said Swedish captain Jim Gottfridsson. “Norway played a great game and deserved the win.” For Norway, the victory was a morale boost ahead of the European Championship. “We knew that Sweden was a tough opponent, but we played with confidence and executed our game plan,” said Norwegian coach Christian Berge. “This win will give us a lot of belief.” The friendly match between Sweden and Norway was part of their respective preparations for the 2022 European Men’s Handball Championship, which will be held in Hungary and Slovakia from January 13-30.