Iceland takes on Sweden today in what amounts to a must-win match — the second round of the intermediate group at the European Handball Championship. After a losing start against Croatia on Friday, the Icelandic team can’t afford another slip. The game is in Malmö, where Sweden will have the crowd behind them.
The standings don’t make comfortable reading for Iceland. Sweden sits top of the intermediate group on four points, having won every match so far. Iceland, Slovenia, and Croatia are all level on two points, while Hungary and Switzerland are propping up the table on one point each.
Sweden have been in sharp form throughout. They beat Croatia 33-25 in the group stage, off the back of wins against the Netherlands and Georgia, then carried that momentum into the intermediate round with a 35-31 win over Slovenia.
The Pressure Mounts
“As much as we may not regard this as a final, our backs are indeed pressing against the wall,” said national team coach Snorri Steinn Guðjónsson before today’s match.
The top two teams in each group advance to the semi-finals. It’s too early to map out every scenario, but what happens in today’s games will go a long way to clarifying Iceland’s situation either way.
The day kicks off with Slovenia against Hungary, then Iceland and Sweden take the court, and the evening closes out with Switzerland facing Croatia.
Today’s Matchups in Intermediate Group 2
- 14:30 Slovenia vs. Hungary (RUV)
- 16:15 Live commentary on RÚV
- 17:00 Iceland vs. Sweden (RUV)
- 19:30 Switzerland vs. Croatia (RUV 2)
All eyes are on Malmö this afternoon. Iceland have shown they can compete at this level — now they need to prove it when it counts.
