Summary: Sweden beat France to join Spain in final
EHF EURO

Summary: Sweden beat France to join Spain in final

Friday 28 January is semi-finals day, and there's also a World Championship place at stake in the placement match that starts the action off in Budapest.

It was a crazy game again, it seems that we only play crazy games. It was a rollercoaster, we did not start well, but we did not get stressed and followed our team plan.
Lukas Pellas
Right wing, Sweden
It was a great day for us to beat this great team from Denmark, as we had lost against them twice in the semi-finals of the World Championship and the Olympic Games. We showed the right reaction in the second half and we functioned perfectly as a team, in which everybody fights for everybody.
Gedeon Guardiola
Line player, Spain
How many times has a goalkeeper been a top scorer at the 20-minute mark in a match? Probably not ever. Andreas Palicka was welcomed back to the Sweden line-up today after missing a game due to Covid-19 and he is proving how valuable his presence is for his side, not only clearly winning the goalkeeper battle against Vincent Gerard but scoring three goals to power his side’s comeback after France took an early lead. Add to that his energy in celebratory mode is enough to power Budapest Handball Arena and his importance for Sweden is clear.
Courtney Gahan
EHF journalist
Goalkeepers Niklas Landin and Gonzalo Perez de Vargas were the stars of the show early in this opening semi-final, both recording save rates of at least 50 per cent until near the 15-minute mark. After 12 minutes, Landin had an unbelievable percentage of 71 per cent, with five saves from seven shots. And if anyone wonders if it is because the teams are shooting poorly, they can forget it — both keepers have made some spectacular saves against wide open chances. Landin has kept it up to the break more than Perez de Vargas, holding a big rate of 41 per cent, and is making a great case for himself as MVP of the EHF EURO 2022, especially if Denmark hold on and book the final berth.
Courtney Gahan
EHF journalist
Iceland goalkeeper Viktor Hallgrímsson is one of the biggest breakout stars of this EURO. He has not been completely consistent, taking time to warm into the role of number one between the posts with a tough game against Denmark before being absolutely key in the record overthrow of France — but that is often the journey of a young player, and Hallgrimsson is still only 21. Against Norway, he has found great form again and is one reason the EHF EURO 2020 bronze medallists do not have a clearer lead at the break.
Courtney Gahan
EHF journalist

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