Will the Russians also surprise in the main round?

There were few surprises in the preliminary round of the European Handball Championship in Hungary and Slovakia. The Russian team was perhaps not expected to march through the first group phase without a loss and now even aim towards the semi-finals. On Thursday, the Russians will take on Sweden

Russia took two points from the preliminary round into the main round after their surprising win against Norway. Considering that with Germany and Poland and maybe also with the Swedes further solvable tasks are waiting, the semifinals must be the goal of the Russian team.

The Swedes had big problems in the first group phase. The runner-up hung by a thread to make it into the main round. It was only with a lot of luck that they were able to make it to the main round in the end, and therefore the prediction between Russia and Sweden may well be a Russian victory.

Before the European Championship started, the Swedes were one of the big favourites to win the title. However, Glen Solberg’s team should not be underestimated, which is why it is still possible to bet on a Scandinavian victory between Russia and Sweden.

Russia – Statistics & current form

Velimir Petkovic has spent a large part of his coaching life in Germany. Born in Yugoslavia, he has long held German citizenship. Meanwhile, he is passing on his experience with the Russian national team, and apparently with great success. It looks like Petkovic may have kissed a sleeping giant awake again.

Surprising performance in the preliminary round

The Russians have been absent from the last three Olympic Games. At World and European Championships, the Sbornaja hardly played a role. But now they have their sights set on the semi-finals. That would be the biggest success since Olympic bronze in Athens in 2004. The Russians are euphoric and that is why we are definitely looking at the odds for a victory for the Russian team between Russia and Sweden.

The victory in the preliminary round against Lithuania was to be expected. However, nobody expected that they would be able to put the strong Norwegians in their place with 23:22. After the two victories, the Russians were already through, but they put an exclamation mark on the final group game against the hosts from Slovakia with a 36:27 victory.

Especially the two back players Sergei Kosorotov and Dimitry Zhitnikov have been convincing with many goals so far. The big support, however, is keeper Victor Kireev, who made one save in the first half of the last group game against Slovakia. If the key players continue their form on Thursday, then a win against the Swedes is possible.

The Russia squad:
Goal: Grushko, Vereshchagin, Kireyev
Back: Vorobev, Kudinov, Zhitnikov, Santalov, Vinogradov, Dzemin, Kosorotov, Kiselev, Kotov, Ivanov
Left wing: Ostashchenko, Soroka
Right wing: Shishkaryov, Kornev, Demin
Circle: Kasatkin, Ermakov, Vrachevich, Andreev
Coach: Petkovic

Last Games of Russia:

European Championships Preliminary Round Grp. F
01/17 2022 – Slovakia 27 – 36 Russia

01/15 2022 – Norway 22 – 23 Russia

01/13 2022 – Russia 29 – 27 Lithuania

Friendlies
01/08 2022 – Croatia 26 – 28 Russia

01/07 2022 – Croatia 30 – 24 Russia

Sweden – Statistics & current form

The qualities of the Swedish team are well known. In many battles they have proven what they are capable of, but at the European Championship it doesn’t look like the Scandinavians should still be on the cards as title contenders. On Thursday, a win is an absolute must if they still want to hope for a place in the semifinals.

The team of the Norwegian coach Glen Solberg has entered the main round without a point. The fact that they are still in the tournament at all was a ride on a razor’s edge. After a must-win against Bosnia and a defeat against Spain, they could not under any circumstances lose to the Czechs in their last match.

Sweden were basically always ahead, but the Czech Republic did not let themselves be left behind. The final phase was to take on dramatic features. In the end, a 27:27 score was enough for the Swedes to stay in the tournament. The performance, however, is once again not encouraging and therefore the forecast between Russia and Sweden remains for a Russian victory.

The Swedes have so far been largely spared positive tests at the continental title fights. With Lucas Pellas and Daniel Pettersson, two players had to isolate themselves from the rest of the team. Emil Mellegard and Valter Chrintz have been re-nominated and have since joined the team.

The Sweden squad:
Goal: Johannesson, Palicka, Thulin
Back: Claar, Gottfridsson, Carlsbogard, Johansson, Wallinius, Lagergren, Sandell
Left wing: Mellegard, Wanne
Right Wing: Ekberg, D. Pettersson, Chrintz
Circle: Darj, Möller, F. Pettersson, Bergendahl
Coach: Solberg

Last matches of Sweden:

European Championships Preliminary Round Grp. E
01/17 2022 – Czech Republic 27 – 27 Sweden

01/15 2022 – Spain 32 – 28 Sweden

01/13 2022 – Sweden 30 – 18 Bosnia and Herzegovina

Friendlies
01/06 2022 – Sweden 34 – 30 Netherlands

11/06 2021 – Sweden 32 – 28 Poland

Russia – Sweden Direct comparison / H2H balance

Since 1998, the teams from Russia and Sweden have played a total of 15 duels in which the Scandinavians have performed significantly better. In this period, the Swedish team is 12:1 ahead after victories. Two duels ended in a draw. The Russians’ last victory was 18 years ago.

Meanwhile, the Swedish team has been unbeaten against the Sbornaja for eight games. The last two matches took place three years ago in preparation for the 2019 World Cup in Denmark and Germany. The Swedes won the first encounter 29:18, but had to settle for 29:29 just one day later.

Russia – Sweden Tip

The time has come to end a long streak. It has been 18 years since the Sbornaja won against Sweden in handball. Now it looks like this series will come to an end at the European Championships in Hungary and Slovakia, because from our point of view the Russians are favoured in the first main round match on Thursday.

The Sbornaja won all three games in the first group phase and unexpectedly beat the strong Norwegians, among others. The Swedes, on the other hand, only made it to the main round by the skin of their teeth.

Perhaps you can also take a look at the handicap or number of goals. We think there will be fewer goals than usual because the Swedes have problems offensively and Russia is stable defensively. That’s why we decided to play the betting odds between Russia and Sweden on a win for the Sbornaja