Handball World Cup on the rise, Yle Sporten lays out the situation before Sweden’s shock with Magnus Wislander: “A match you prefer not to talk about as a Swede”

Will Denmark take the third straight WC gold? Is Sweden lifting with a huge crowd at its back? And will France get a chance for revenge? Yle Sporten provides the conditions for the quarter-finals with Magnus Wislander’s help.

Two rounds of group stage are over. Tonight it’s win or lose in the men’s handball World Cup when the quarter-finals are played.

Home nation Sweden moves from Scandinavium in Gothenburg to Tele2 Arena in Stockholm. Around 20,000 tickets should be sold for tonight’s crowd party when Sweden meets Egypt.

– It will be important that Sweden can handle it, says the former great player Magnus Wislander to Yle Sporten.

Wislander, who is an expert for Radiosport during the World Cup, won EC gold on home soil in 2002. He knows how important it is to be able to handle the pressure from the stands.

– If everything goes smoothly, it will just be an awesome experience. But if the players start thinking and get a stiff wrist, it can quickly go the other way as well. A silent arena with so many people is not a fun experience, but this team seems to be able to handle most things.

The big favorites are still in the match. According to Wislander, all quarterfinal teams except Hungary could play in Sunday’s World Cup final.

Two of the quarter-finals are played in Stockholm and two in Gdansk. There are many indications that reigning world champions Denmark will be forced to travel back and forth to Poland for the semi-finals if they are to go all the way.

– It’s tight and Denmark can suffer a little from it, but this is how it goes with shared championships. And the home team usually gets a small advantage, says Wislander and laughs.

Here are the four quarter-final pairings – analyzed by Wislander.

Denmark–Hungary

At 19.00 in Stockholm.

There is no doubt that Denmark has been one of the world’s best handball teams in recent years. Two consecutive WC golds and two consecutive Olympic finals speak for themselves.

Now the Danes are big favorites in the quarter-finals against upstart Hungary.

– When Sweden played their tempo handball against Hungary, the Hungarians looked really pale. And Denmark impressed greatly in the last group stage match against Egypt. They looked ridiculously good then.

What has impressed you most in Denmark so far?

– Simon Pytlick was really good against Egypt, Niklas Landin can close in the goal and Mathias Gidsel has kept the goalscoring going.

Mikkel Hansen, then? Denmark’s experienced star players came to life against Egypt.

– It is probably nice for both Denmark and Mikkel himself that the team is not so dependent on him. He has looked a little disinterested during the season, but last time he looked really hot.

Norway–Spain

At 19.00 in Gdansk.

On paper, this is the most uncertain quarter-final. Norway have won every match in the group stage – it was tight against both Germany and Serbia in the main round – and have not been quite as reliant on Sander Sagosen in this World Cup tournament.

– They have managed that he plays less. Christian O’Sullivan and Gøran Johannessen have played well. Norway has a balanced team, but goaltending is their weakness.

The question is whether Norway can handle Spain. Spain fell in the group final against France, but over the years has proven to be a cunning and difficult opposition.

– Spain always has a good defense and goalkeeper in Gonzalo Pérez de Vargas. Strong defense and easy counter goals are their opportunity. They concede very few goals.

Sweden–Egypt

At 21.30 in Stockholm.

Sweden is the reigning European champion – and so far the home team has looked very strong. Sweden has lined up victories in the group stage, but Wislander points out that it doesn’t matter now.

– This is a match that you prefer not to talk about as a Swede. Sweden is the favourite, but it could be a close call. Egypt are heavy and physical and have strong shooting from nine meters.

Wislander names Sweden’s breadth as its greatest strength. In Kielproffess Eric Johansson, Sweden has got a strong distance shooter.

– And then, of course, Gothenburg’s new star Andreas Palicka is in the goal. He has owned the matches he has stood with his charisma and ability to ignite the crowd.

How good is Egypt? They are Africa’s best national team, have developed their tactical ability and play an increasingly European handball. But can they touch Sweden, who play with a large home crowd behind them?

– They have developed with their Spanish coach and are tactically smart. They are well on their way.

France–Germany

At 21.30 in Gdansk.

France, the Olympic champions from Tokyo, have missed the World Cup semi-finals just once since the turn of the millennium. In this year’s WC, the team is seeking revenge after the medal misses in the last WC and EC.

In both of those tournaments, there was a loss in the semi-finals against Sweden – and if the late quarter-finals go according to the advance tips, a new showdown awaits the Swedes.

– France has impressed by going away at the beginning of the matches and then they keep that lead. Plus, they have world stars to throw in. And I’ve said that France is playing in the final, so I’ll stand by that.

Many consider Barcelona’s Dika Mem to be the world’s best player, but Wislander expects even more from him.

– He has not been as good as he is in Barcelona, ​​but it is a magical player with his physique and his shot.

All quarter-finals in the handball WC are broadcast in Viaplay.