Palicka slams the door as Sweden make it four from four
Seven goals conceded in a first half at this level? That is a goalkeeper putting up a wall. Sweden’s 28–22 win over Slovenia in Hamburg was all about Andreas Palicka switching on the lights when the game looked stuck in the mud. After a sluggish opening 20 minutes, he started swallowing shots, Sweden’s defense tightened, and the whole tone of the night changed.
Both sides came in organized and alert, and for a while it was a defensive duel. Slovenia matched Sweden’s intensity, and their keeper Klemen Ferlin met the moment with sharp stops of his own. The early exchanges were cagey, the pace choppy, and clean looks at goal scarce. Then Palicka took over. Sweden’s line closed ranks, blocks started to land, and every save seemed to fuel a faster break the other way.
By halftime, Slovenia had only seven goals. You could feel the air go out of their attack. Sweden weren’t dazzling in attack yet, but they were patient, took care of the ball, and waited for breaks to appear. They got four of them—clear counterattacks that gave them separation. That was the gap Slovenia never fully bridged.
The start of the second half brought the decisive punch: four unanswered goals for Sweden, all on quick, clean actions. A turnover became a sprint. A rushed Slovenian shot became another fast break. Sweden love that rhythm—defend, run, finish—and Hamburg saw the full package. Once the game opened up, Slovenia were always chasing numbers on the scoreboard and shadows in transition.
Sweden’s defensive shape did the unseen work. The central block squeezed space for Slovenia’s backcourt, forcing shots from awkward angles. The wings tracked back, cutting off the first pass of the counter. Palicka read the ball early, smothered low shots, and got two hands on efforts most keepers only deflect. When your goalkeeper is that sure-handed, everything else becomes simpler: defenders step out with confidence, risks feel safer, and the break is always on.
On the other end, Sweden didn’t rely on one hot hand. The back line kept the ball moving, drew fouls, and fed the line player when Slovenia’s defense flattened out. The wings finished the easy ones born from pressure. There was no rush to force the spectacular. It was clinical, not flashy—attack just good enough to let the defense and goalkeeping do the heavy lifting.
Slovenia had their moments. Ferlin stood tall in the first half and made several strong saves that kept the game within reach. Their defense was stubborn at 6–0, and they slowed Sweden’s set play for stretches. But the cost of that discipline showed after the break. Fatigue crept in, closeouts came a step late, and a couple of turnovers proved brutal. Against a team that runs like Sweden, one sloppy spell can define a night.
From Slovenia’s bench, there was no hiding from it: both teams defended well early, but those four clean counters created a canyon between them. When the opponent is that fast and that tidy in transition, you spend the rest of the match trying not to blink. Slovenia never quit, but the gap stayed stubborn.
Beyond the scoreboard, this win matters in the math of the main round. Two points banked in Hamburg strengthen Sweden’s push in Group II and keep momentum on their side. Four games, four victories, and a performance that will play well when the stakes rise again. In a tight group loaded with heavyweights, nights like this make the difference between simply advancing and shaping the bracket to your liking.
There was also the vibe inside the arena: a loud Swedish section, a team that feeds off stops and sprints, and a veteran keeper who looked at home on a big night. The body language told the story—calm faces on the Swedish bench, a sense that the match was under control once Palicka locked in and the breaks started to fall.
What’s next? More pressure cookers. Group II is stacked, with dates looming against rivals who know how to squeeze a game to the final possession. Denmark and Norway bring world-class backcourt power. Portugal and the Netherlands can run you off the floor if you hand them turnovers. This is where Sweden’s identity—defend, transition, repeat—becomes their safety net.
For Slovenia, the path is still open. The first half showed they can go toe-to-toe in a tactical battle. The job now is to clean up the transition defense and manage tempo when legs get heavy. Ferlin’s form gives them a platform. If they keep the ball and stay out of the penalty box, they will trouble anyone left on their schedule.
Strip it down and the key beats are simple. Sweden won the middle of the floor, forced shots from bad spots, and turned pressure into points going the other way. Palicka was the anchor. The four-goal surge at the start of the second half broke Slovenia’s grip. From there, Sweden were never really in danger.
It’s one result, but it fits a bigger pattern. Sweden’s tournament has been built on control, not chaos. When they dictate pace, they look like a team made for late January handball—disciplined, fast, and comfortable in the grind. Nights like this don’t just add points. They build belief.
Key takeaways and the bigger picture
- Scoreline: Sweden 28, Slovenia 22. The turning point came with a 4–0 burst right after halftime.
- Defensive pillar: Slovenia managed only seven first-half goals as Palicka led a smothering Swedish effort.
- Goalkeeper duel: Ferlin kept Slovenia afloat early, but Sweden’s momentum on the break separated the teams.
- Transition edge: Four clear counterattacks created the decisive gap and set the tone for the second half.
- Standings impact: Two valuable points in Group II and a fourth straight win keep Sweden in prime position at the EHF EURO 2024.
Hamburg wanted a statement to start the main round. Sweden delivered one the old-fashioned way—defend with discipline, run with purpose, and trust a hot goalkeeper. If they keep that balance, the bracket will take care of itself.
