Palicka leads Sweden to bronze

Sweden led by six goals at half-time after Germany experienced defensive struggles in the opening 30 minutes, but Germany found their game at that end of the court in the second period and brought the match much closer. Sweden held off the comeback to end their Men's EHF EURO 2024 campaign with a medal and a ticket to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. 

The result continued a series of wins for Sweden in medal matches against Germany. The two sides had previously met in two finals won by the Scandinavian team, including the EHF EURO 2002 trophy game, and two bronze medal games.

Andreas Palicka received the Grundfos Player of the Match award after making 19 saves at a rate of 44.2 per cent.

BRONZE MEDAL MATCH

Sweden vs Germany 34:31 (18:12)

• it came down to the last six minutes as Sweden held off a comeback from Germany to clinch a three-goal win
• an enormous performance from Sweden goalkeeper Andreas Palicka was decisive in the first half, as he made 14 saves at a rate of 53.9 per cent in that period to give his side’s attack every chance to open a clear gap
• after Andreas Wolff made two saves in the first 20 minutes, David Späth came into Germany’s goal but the EHF EURO 2024 hosts’ defence was simply outplayed by Sweden
• with Wolff back in goal and saving as the second period began, while Palicka’s save rate slowed and Tobias Thulin came into Sweden’s goal for a time, Germany reduced the deficit to 19:24 then scored two more unanswered goals to bring it to 21:24 with 17 minutes to go
• in the 54th minute, Germany came within one goal at 29:30 after two consecutive goals and a stop in defence in between, but they could not level the score and that was as close as it would come

First EURO bronze for Sweden

Sweden are the record title holders at the Men’s EHF EURO but had taken only one other medal prior to Sunday: silver in 2018. They had played for third once before, way back in 1996, when they were defeated by Yugoslavia.

Overall, the bronze won in Cologne was Sweden’s seventh medal at the EHF EURO and third since 2018. No other team can match that recent record, with the finalists Denmark and France having won one medal apiece since the 2018 edition in Croatia.

On the ranking of Men’s EHF EURO medals, Sweden sit third behind Denmark and leaders Spain. For Sweden, this is the 23rd medal across all major competitions.

Photos © Kolektiff Images