Sweden men's national handball team
Men's national handball team representing Sweden
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Sweden men's national handball team (Swedish: Sveriges herrlandslag i handboll) is Sweden's national team in men's handball and is controlled by the Swedish Handball Association. Its most successful periods were under coaches Curt Wadmark (1948–1967) and Bengt Johansson (1988–2004). The team under Bengt Johansson, nicknamed Bengan Boys in Sweden, is regarded as one of the finest national teams in the history of the sport with players like Tomas Svensson, Magnus Wislander, Staffan Olsson and Stefan Lövgren. From 1990 through 2002 the team reached the medal round in every championship (6 World Championships, 5 European Championships and 3 Olympic Games, earning 13 medals in total) and qualified for a record 8 championship finals in a row 1996–2002.
AssociationSwedish Handball Association
(Svenska Handbollförbundet)
(Svenska Handbollförbundet)
CoachMichael Apelgren
Assistant coachPatrik Fahlgren
Daniel Larsson
Daniel Larsson
Most capsMagnus Wislander (386)
| Sweden | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| |||
| Information | |||
| Association | Swedish Handball Association (Svenska Handbollförbundet) | ||
| Coach | Michael Apelgren | ||
| Assistant coach | Patrik Fahlgren Daniel Larsson | ||
| Most caps | Magnus Wislander (386) | ||
| Most goals | Magnus Wislander (1191) | ||
| Colours | |||
| |||
| Results | |||
| Summer Olympics | |||
| Appearances | 10 (First in 1972) | ||
| Best result |  2nd (1992, 1996, 2000, 2012) | ||
| World Championship | |||
| Appearances | 27 (First in 1938) | ||
| Best result |  1st (1954, 1958, 1990, 1999) | ||
| European Championship | |||
| Appearances | 16 (First in 1994) | ||
| Best result | 1st (1994, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2022) | ||
| Last updated on Unknown. | |||
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Olympic Games | ||
 | 1992 Barcelona | Team |
| 1996 Atlanta | Team |
| 2000 Sydney | Team |
| 2012 London | Team |
| World Championship | ||
 | 1954 Sweden | |
| 1958 East Germany | |
| 1990 Czechoslovakia | |
| 1999 Egypt | |
| 1964 Czechoslovakia | |
| 1997 Japan | |
| 2001 France | |
| 2021 Egypt | |
 | 1938 Germany | |
| 1961 West Germany | |
| 1993 Sweden | |
| 1995 Iceland | |
| European Championship | ||
| 1994 Portugal | |
| 1998 Italy | |
| 2000 Croatia | |
| 2002 Sweden | |
| 2022 Hungary/Slovakia | |
| 2018 Croatia | |
| 2024 Germany | |
| World Outdoor Championship | ||
| 1948 France | |
| 1952 Switzerland | |
| 1959 Austria | |
Sweden is the most successful nation at the European Men's Handball Championship with 5 titles, and has together with France won the most medals at the World Men's Handball Championship with a total tally of 12 medals, including 4 gold medals. Conversely, Sweden has yet to win an Olympic title despite participating in 4 finals (Sweden participated in the 1952 Summer Olympics in a demonstration match, defeating Denmark 19–11). The team has also won the World Cup 3 times, the Supercup 2 times, and were Intercontinental Cup winners in 2000.
Honours
| Competition | | |  | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olympic Games | 0 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| World Championship | 4 | 4 | 4 | 12 |
| European Championship | 5 | 1 | 1 | 7 |
| Total | 9 | 9 | 5 | 23 |
Competitive record
Champions Runners-up Third place Fourth place
Olympic Games
| Games | Round | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 1936 Berlin |
did not enter | ||||||||
| Not held from 1948 to 1968 | |||||||||
 1972 Munich |
Match for 7th place | 7th of 16 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 82 | 87 | −5 |
 1976 Montreal |
did not qualify | ||||||||
 1980 Moscow | |||||||||
 1984 Los Angeles |
Match for 5th place | 5th of 12 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 145 | 134 | +11 |
 1988 Seoul |
5th of 12 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 133 | 109 | +24 | |
 1992 Barcelona |
Runners-up | 2nd of 12 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 165 | 130 | +35 |
| 1996 Atlanta |
2nd of 12 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 182 | 141 | +41 | |
 2000 Sydney |
2nd of 12 | 8 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 240 | 197 | +43 | |
 2004 Athens |
did not qualify | ||||||||
 2008 Beijing | |||||||||
 2012 London |
Runners-up | 2nd of 12 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 228 | 186 | +42 |
 2016 Rio de Janeiro |
Group stage | 11th of 12 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 132 | 131 | +1 |
 2020 Tokyo |
Quarter-finals | 5th of 12 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 177 | 176 | +1 |
 2024 Paris |
7th of 12 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 189 | 171 | +18 | |
| 2028 Los Angeles |
to be determined | ||||||||
| 2032 Brisbane | |||||||||
| Total | 10/17 | 0 Titles | 65 | 42 | 2 | 21 | 1673 | 1362 | +211 |
World Championship
| World Championship record | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
| 1938 Germany |
Third place | 3rd of 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 13 | −5 |
 1954 Sweden |
Champions | 1st of 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 56 | 36 | +20 |
 1958 East Germany |
Champions | 1st of 16 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 138 | 74 | +64 |
| 1961 West Germany |
Third place | 3rd of 12 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 89 | 73 | +16 |
 1964 Czechoslovakia |
Runners-up | 2nd of 16 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 104 | 90 | +14 |
| 1967 Sweden |
Match for 5th place | 5th of 16 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 118 | 112 | +6 |
| 1970 France |
Match for 5th place | 6th of 16 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 69 | 68 | +1 |
| 1974 East Germany |
Preliminary round | 10th of 16 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 111 | 113 | −2 |
 1978 Denmark |
Second round | 8th of 16 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 121 | 125 | −4 |
| 1982 West Germany |
Second round | 11th of 16 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 159 | 157 | +2 |
 1986 Switzerland |
Fourth place | 4th of 16 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 174 | 153 | +21 |
| 1990 Czechoslovakia |
Champions | 1st of 16 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 177 | 143 | +34 |
| 1993 Sweden |
Third place | 3rd of 16 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 166 | 136 | +30 |
 1995 Iceland |
Third place | 3rd of 24 | 9 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 251 | 201 | +50 |
| 1997 Japan |
Runners-up | 2nd of 24 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 253 | 187 | +66 |
 1999 Egypt |
Champions | 1st of 24 | 9 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 282 | 202 | +80 |
| 2001 France |
Runners-up | 2nd of 24 | 9 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 263 | 207 | +56 |
 2003 Portugal |
Second round | 13th of 24 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 204 | 191 | +13 |
 2005 Tunisia |
Main round | 11th of 24 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 275 | 234 | +41 |
| 2007 Germany | did not qualify | ||||||||
 2009 Croatia |
Main round | 7th of 24 | 9 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 277 | 232 | +45 |
| 2011 Sweden |
Fourth place | 4th of 24 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 272 | 241 | +31 |
| 2013 Spain | did not qualify | ||||||||
 2015 Qatar |
Round of 16 | 10th of 24 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 157 | 133 | +24 |
| 2017 France |
Quarter-finals | 6th of 24 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 233 | 166 | +67 |
| 2019 Denmark/Germany |
Main round | 5th of 24 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 273 | 222 | +51 |
| 2021 Egypt |
Runners-up | 2nd of 32 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 276 | 218 | +58 |
 2023 Poland/Sweden |
Fourth place | 4th of 32 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 299 | 237 | +62 |
 2025 Croatia/Denmark/Norway |
Main round | 14th of 32 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 195 | 173 | +22 |
| 2027 Germany | Qualified | ||||||||
| 2029 France/Germany | To be determined | ||||||||
| // 2031 Denmark/Iceland/Norway | |||||||||
| Total | 28/32 | 4 Titles | 193 | 131 | 8 | 54 | 5000 | 4137 | +863 |
European Championship
| European Championship record | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
| 1994 Portugal |
Champions | 1st of 12 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 172 | 133 | +39 |
| 1996 Spain |
Fourth place | 4th of 12 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 170 | 156 | +14 |
 1998 Italy |
Champions | 1st of 12 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 182 | 158 | +24 |
| 2000 Croatia |
Champions | 1st of 12 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 198 | 167 | +31 |
| 2002 Sweden |
Champions | 1st of 16 | 8 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 235 | 191 | +44 |
 2004 Slovenia |
Main round | 7th of 16 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 211 | 203 | +8 |
| 2006 Switzerland | did not qualify | ||||||||
| 2008 Norway |
Match for 5th place | 5th of 16 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 208 | 190 | +18 |
 2010 Austria |
Preliminary round | 15th of 16 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 78 | 84 | −6 |
 2012 Serbia |
Main round | 12th of 16 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 157 | 168 | −11 |
| 2014 Denmark |
Main round | 7th of 16 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 166 | 158 | +8 |
| 2016 Poland |
Match for 7th place | 8th of 16 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 173 | 168 | +5 |
| 2018 Croatia |
Runners-up | 2nd of 16 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 218 | 216 | +2 |
| 2020 Austria/Norway/Sweden |
Main round | 7th of 24 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 182 | 169 | +13 |
  2022 Hungary/Slovakia |
Champions | 1st of 24 | 9 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 252 | 221 | +31 |
| 2024 Germany |
Third place | 3rd of 24 | 9 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 282 | 255 | +27 |
| 2026 Denmark/Norway/Sweden |
Match for 5th place | 6th of 24 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 270 | 240 | +30 |
| 2028 Portugal/Spain/Switzerland | To be determined | ||||||||
| 2030 Czech Republic/Denmark/Poland | |||||||||
| 2032 France/ Germany | |||||||||
| Total | 16/20 | 5 titles | 113 | 72 | 7 | 34 | 3154 | 2877 | +277 |
- *Denotes draws include knockout matches decided on penalty throws.
- **Gold background color indicates that the tournament was won. Red border color indicates tournament was held on home soil.
Team
Current squad
Roster for the 2026 European Men's Handball Championship.[1][2]
Head coach: Michael Apelgren
|
Notable players
- Per Carlén
- Björn "Lurch" Andersson
- Bengt Johansson
- Stefan Lövgren
- Mats Olsson
- Staffan Olsson
- Magnus Wislander
- Ljubomir Vranjes
- Pierre Thorsson
- Magnus Andersson
- Ola Lindgren
- Erik Hajas
- Johan Petersson
- Peter Gentzel
- Tomas Svensson
- Kim Andersson
- Martin Frändesjö
- Jim Gottfridsson
- Niclas Ekberg
- Jonas Källman
Coaches
| # | Coaches | Period |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Herbert Johansson | 1938–1948 |
| 2 | Curt Wadmark | 1948–1967 |
| 3 | Roland Mattsson | 1967–1974 |
| 4 | Bertil Andersén | 1974–1979 |
| 5 | Ingemar Eriksson | 1979–1980 |
| 6 | Caj-Åke Andersson | 1980–1982 |
| 7 | Roger "Ragge" Carlsson | 1982–1988 |
| 8 | Bengt "Bengan" Johansson | 1988–2004 |
| 9 | Ingemar Linnéll | 2004–2008 |
| 10 | Ola Lindgren & Staffan Olsson | 2008–2016 |
| 11 | Kristján Andrésson | 2016–2020 |
| 12 | Glenn Solberg | 2020–2024 |
| 13 | Michael Apelgren | 2024– |
World and European records
World records
- Longest undefeated streak in international championships (25 matches, Euro 1998 - 2000 Olympic Games).
- Longest medal round streak in major championships (14 tournaments, 1990–2002).
- Longest medal round streak in the World Championships (7 tournaments, 1986–2001).
- 8 consecutive finals in international championships (1996–2002).
- Most World Championship finals (8 - shared with France).
European records
- 3 consecutive gold medals at the European championship (1998, 2000, 2002).
Other merits
- First European nation to win a major championship title three times in a row (Euro 1998, Euro 2000, Euro 2002).
- 3 x winners of the World Cup (1992, 1996, 2004)
- 2 x winners of the Supercup (1993, 2005)
- 1 x winners of the Intercontinental Cup (2000)
- The first IHF World Champion (1954 - indoor handball) (Germany's 1938 victory was under the IAHF).
- The first EHF European Champion (1994).
- Defeated Denmark 18–12 in Copenhagen in the first ever international indoor handball game (8 March 1935).
