Match Preview
Sweden’s performance was flawless until a surprising loss to Iceland on Sunday. However, I expect the co-hosts to recover quickly and deliver a statement win against an already eliminated Hungarian side. With their semifinal hopes on the line, the Swedes should have more than enough motivation to secure a comfortable victory in Malmo.
Sweden’s Semifinal Hopes on the Line
Sweden no longer has any room for error. To secure a spot in the European Championship 2026 semifinals, they likely need to win both of their remaining Main Round matches.
After cruising through the group stage with three commanding victories over Georgia, the Netherlands, and Croatia, the Swedes faced their first real test against Slovenia in the Main Round opener. Despite trailing 15-13 at halftime, they turned up the intensity after the break, scoring 22 goals in the second half to win 35-31. Lukas Sandell was the standout in that contest, leading the charge with seven goals.
However, their perfect run ended abruptly on Sunday with a 35-27 defeat to Iceland. Playing in front of a stunned home crowd, the Swedish defense looked vulnerable, particularly against Iceland’s lightning-fast transition game.
Hungary Looking for Pride After Elimination
Regardless of the results in the final two rounds, Hungary is out of the race for the semifinals. They currently sit at the bottom of the Group II standings with just one point to their name.
The "Magyars" earned their only point so far in a dramatic Main Round opener against Switzerland. After trailing by six goals at the half, they staged a massive comeback and even held a late lead before ultimately settling for a 29-29 draw.
Their semifinal dreams were officially dashed on Sunday in a 35-32 loss to Slovenia. While Hungary played a solid first half, they were undone by unforced errors and poor shooting efficiency down the stretch. Bence Imre was the lone bright spot, putting on a clinic with eight goals in the losing effort.