16 minutes into the match against Croatia and with only two points under their name in the men’s handball competition at the Paris 2024 Olympic Game, Sweden looked to be in huge trouble. The Scandinavian side were down four goals, 6:10, and their challenge for a quarter-finals berth was due to receive a huge blow.

Lose the match, and the EHF EURO 2022 champions, the team that finished fourth at the 2023 IHF Men’s World Championship and secured the bronze medal at the EHF EURO 2024, would have their future out of their hands, ahead of the last match of the preliminary round against Japan.

But then, something shifted. After scoring six goals in the first 16 minutes, Sweden bounced back and scored 12 more in the remaining 14 minutes. They wrestled the lead back from Croatia and went on to deliver their opponents their largest-ever loss in history at the Olympic Games, 38:27.

"We had a lot of frustration within us after the two defeats that we've had so far and that was probably visible today, that we wanted it a lot,” says Sweden’s Lucas Pellas, the left wing who was his team’s top scorer, with eight goals. 

Sweden are one of the most decorated teams in history, winning 12 medals at the IHF Men’s World Championship, four of which were gold, and seven medals at the EHF EURO, including five titles – the largest number in history in the European premium competition.

But the powerhouse that dominated men’s handball in the 1990s have never secured the title at the Olympic Games, settling for four silver medals – at Barcelona 1992, Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000 and London 2012. Eight years ago, at Rio 2016, Sweden finished 11th. And at Tokyo 2020, they went out in the quarter-finals, finishing on the fifth place.

“We got a little bit stressed in the beginning, we took a team time-out and after that we calmed down and found our concept. And then, overall, in the last 45 minutes for me, we were the better team. And it starts in the defence and the hard work and the concept that we are working after,” says goalkeeper Andreas Palicka.

Palicka was one of the driving forces behind Sweden’s comeback and their hugely important win against Croatia, with 15 saves, for a 36% saving efficiency, stopping shots in key moments, including seven one-on-one saves, which constantly frustrated Croatia.

And then, there was more. Sweden lost influential centre back Jim Gottfridsson for this match, after he was suspended by the IHF Disciplinary Commission due to particularly reckless, particularly dangerous, premeditated or malicious action in the match against Slovenia. The Scandinavian side were also without another centre back, Felix Claar, substituted due to an injury.

“It was a very tough situation without Jim, without Felix. We needed to focus on the players who could play and, for example, Jonathan Edvardsson, who entered in this match for the first time, showed why he is such a great player.  So I'm very proud and happy to have him in my team. That's a little bit the Swedish character and the concept we are standing behind. We will never give up,” adds Palicka.

Pellas agrees with the things that made this Sweden win more important than others.

"We do it really good there. We don't panic. We continued a bit like in the end against Slovenia in the beginning of this match but it's so damn nice to see that we've got this morale. We are hit down, getting the start that we get, and to then still make our way back into the match. It is a great boost to the morale,” says the left wing.

But Sweden are not already through for the quarter-finals, as they still need to secure at least a draw against Japan in the last match, with one point being enough to progress, in a very well-balanced group, probably one of the most balanced in the history at the Olympic Games.

“We are not speaking about medals. After performing like we did, up and down, in this tournament until now, we are just looking at the next game like always. Now, first of all we have to recover and then we have to make a great game against a very good Japan side and see if the things are enough to come in the quarter-finals,” concludes Palicka.

With Gottfridsson returning to the team for the match against Japan and in the potential quarter-finals, Sweden can be back at nearly full strength. Can a medal be on the cards? It remains to be seen. But for a team like Glenn Solberg’s, any side will count them out at their own peril.