Men's EHF EURO 2026 flash quotes: 22 January
MALMÖ – Comments from players and coaches at media calls for Men's EHF EURO 2026 main round group II at of the Men's EHF EURO 2026.
HUNGARY
José Rodríguez (ESP) – Hungary head coach
On the narrow defeat against Iceland:
“Iceland is an amazing team. Now to win all the matches in the in the EURO is really difficult. All the matches you need to play 100 per cent and even when you're playing 100 per cent you can lose because a lot of good teams are here. We are so proud of the game that we do against Iceland. But now this is to forget and we go to start with the next, and that is Switzerland.”
On Switzerland:
“They are strong. They played three really good matches.
“They have so clear the things that they want to play. They play really good. They have amazing coach, Andy Schmid, I love him and I think he was an amazing player and he's an amazing coach. It will be so difficult, like every match here in the tournament. But if we want to continue with some chance to go to the semi-final, we need to try to win this match.”
On Hungary's key strengths:
“We need to do everything good. We are trying to fight a lot in defence for try to defend them. They run a lot. They have really good fast break and we need to make a good balance and try to defend good. We hope that we can stop him.”
On their main round opponents:
“The other group everybody say that is so strong. But I think our part also is strong. We are going to play four matches in six days. So the last two matches are with no rest. So, we need to work a lot. And together we need to play like team if we want to win some matches. If I start to speak about Sweden or Croatia, Slovenia, they are really incredible teams.”
Zoran Ilić (HUN) – right back
On what Hungary can improve:
“We can improve in the attack because we play amazing in defence. And we also run a little bit, but in these three games I think we show our character that almost youngest team can play against biggest team here in European championship. We lose against Iceland by one, but I think we play amazing game. Tough game.”
On Iceland:
“It will be similar game against Switzerland, like against Iceland because it's almost playing the same tactic. They have good players in all position and some are key players in clubs. But the key things in the game might well be this balance in the defence because the Switzerland run a lot after goals or if we lose the ball. So we need to keep this.”
On main round:
“If I see the other group, it's maybe better to stay in this group that we have some chance to win some games. I think that we can win against Switzerland or some other teams in group. But it will be hard. One thing for sure we will fight until the end in all the games and we will try to win all the games, but in the end, we will see that it will be enough.”
SWEDEN
Michael Apelgren (SWE) – Sweden head coach
On the main round:
“It's four big games. And in the European championship is all about being here and now. So, at the moment, big focus on the game against Slovenia and nothing more.”
On Slovenia and missing players:
“It would be better for them to have all players here, I know many things about that from last year when we had so many players out. But the team that they are playing with is not bad. And I think that on paper they should win this group with Switzerland, Faroe Islands and Montenegro. So for me, this is not a big surprise they are here. They are really good and are capable of beating us. And we have big respect for what they are coming with.”
On what could be the key in game against Slovenia:
“One thing with Slovenia is that even if they are from Balkan, they are maybe not like the other Balkans so much. It's a big difference if you compare Croatia and Slovenia. Of course they have some mentality that are similar, but they are not playing with so many shooters. They're playing with a lot of playmakers and skilful smart guys. So that is a different style of handball, which I enjoy a lot. And I think they play beautiful handball.”
On Slovenia's defence:
“They are mixing their defence with sometimes being more defensive with quite high three-three style defence. So against Slovenia, you will always get many tactical things in consideration, so that is for sure fun and interesting to play against and different from other opponents.”
On not taking a timeout against Croatia:
“In the game against Croatia for sure it was a tactical thing. We know that they have problems if they cannot change and if they get tired. So for sure it was on purpose. Even though I was thinking that maybe I had something smart to say, but luckily with all this video replay checking and everything, then you have your time to get the info out.
“So we got the information that we wanted in attack and defence, and then we also could manage to don't stop the game which was in favour for us. It was a clear choice from our side.”
Jonathan Carlsbogård (SWE) – left back
On winning all three games in the preliminary round:
“It has been a good feeling so far. Of course with three wins and bringing the two points to the main round. That was what we wanted.”
On the game against Slovenia:
“They are a good team and they have a lot of good players. We have played against them the last couple of years and we have had some good games and bad games. So hopefully this will be one of the good ones.”
On how Slovenia play:
“I have seen some minutes of their games. I would say it's pretty difficult with our schedule and to mix that with to watch other teams, but I try to watch them because I have some teammates there as well. So then it's extra fun to watch that kind of team.”
On playing against his teammates from Barça:
“Of course it makes even more important to win. Otherwise you will hear it for some weeks or maybe some months even. You never know. But it's extra fun, of course to play against your teammates and be around them, like in the hotel here, and to speak and to chat a bit. It will be a fun game for sure.”
On main round group II:
“It's a tough main round. As always, there's a lot of good teams. But now our focus will be on Slovenia, and then after that we'll go for the next one. But now it's 100 per cent focus on Slovenia.”
Jim Gottfridsson (SWE) – centre back
On Sweden's start to the EHF EURO:
“We played very good. We played exactly how we want. And of course, you can always twist this something you can do better sometimes, something you have to do a little bit more or less. Also, if you look at the whole team, you know, if you take the new player inside, we have the same level as, as the first team. This is also what we want to have because then we can run the whole 60 minutes.
“But, also we need to stay with our feet on the ground because we know we want to play a long tournament, but we know also that it's very hard tournament. So we cannot look so much forward because we know now we're enjoying two points in the main round, but we also know Slovenia will come and we know we need to play again. We need to play a high level again to get the next two points.”
On Sweden's rotation:
“We have found something good in Sweden with some young players who have this level that they want to do everything. Then we have a bit older players, they are like more calmer, who know what we have to do and know what we don't have to do.
“I think this mix is really good now in Sweden. Because then the older players can't only calm down and the young players can's only run, we have to figure out the mix. In the first three games it worked very lovely. But we also know against Slovenia we have a new a big challenge for us.”
On the main round:
“We have four lovely games in front of us here in Malmö. We want to enjoy, of course with the Swedish fans, we have great spectators. We enjoy it. We have to work our ass off. One thing is sure, against Slovenia we want to have these two points and that game is now key.”
On Slovenia:
“They score very many goals and they have, you can say, almost only playmakers. They play handball like nobody else. The ball goes from right to the left and left to the right. They score so many goals and have so much individual quality what not many teams have. So our key is of course like always a good defence with the goalkeeper. Then we have to run.”
CROATIA
Dagur Sigurdsson (ISL) – Croatia head coach
On defeat against Sweden:
“Still frustration, after the game yesterday. We came late back to the hotel, and it was not so easy to go to sleep. And then starting the preparation for the Iceland game, we have a short time, so we have to use it well for recovery and video preparation.”
On the impact defeat has:
“This is just the way it is. There is no point in staying disappointed forever. We just have to continue and do our best in the next games.”
On their main round opponents:
“The good thing is that we know the teams very well that we are going to play against in the main round. We played against most of them in January last year and we also played a test game against the Swiss in the beginning of November. So this is the good thing. This helps us with the preparation. We know the opponents very well. We also have to concentrate more on our game.”
On their performance so far:
“We made too many mistakes. We made it easy for Sweden too many times by not using our chances, by giving away the ball too much. So overall, we have to be better in all departments, everywhere. From goalkeeper to defence to the fast breaks, how we run back attack. So this is the main focus just to have more concentration, much more discipline. That's the main point for the game against Iceland.”
On Iceland:
“Iceland has one of the best teams in the tournament. But they also have their own problems. Yes, they have took points with them and they are in a better position, but we can see in the competition that things can change very quickly.
“They know that also from last year (at the World Championship) that they were in a good position. I think they already won four or five games last year and then suddenly lost and were out of the competition. The team is in good shape, but they lost one important player in the last game, Elvar Örn Jónsson. So let's see what they what they change tactically after that. That's a big question.”
Luka Lovre Klarica (CRO) – right back
On the defeat against Sweden:
“The defeat grounded us. A big defeat by eight goals, and we know goal difference can be important so it's tough, but we need to forget about it. We have a new game against Iceland and we have to be focused.”
On the game against Iceland:
“We played against them a year ago and we played a very good match, showed we can beat them. Looking back to that game, I hope we will show what we are capable of again. And to play a first great game at this tournament.”
On what was not working so far:
“Neither defence or the attack were working for us. We had too many hasty attacks, and it's hard to defend. I think if we get our attack right, the defence will follow. When we are well composed, play six-against-six, not many teams can keep up.”
On Iceland:
“They are a team of a great individual top players. That's their main strength, as well as one-on-one play. We have to be good in defence, and if we stop their main players, we will have upper hand.”
Dominik Kuzmanović (CRO) – goalkeeper
On the game against Iceland:
“We played against them last year at the World Championship. It's a similar team, the only difference is they didn't have Ómar Ingi Magnússon, now he is here. We should forget about everything what happened against Sweden and prepare well. For us, each game in the main round is a final.”
On starting the main round without points:
“This is not a new situation for Croatia and we know how to deal with it. We also saw Denmark lost and that's how it is at a tournament like this. It's not easy, but you have to go forward and try to improve for the next game. To get your focus back. Not allow defeat to impact you too much.”
On his performance:
“It's still not at the level both of us goalkeepers want to have and what we expect for ourselves. I think we need to be better, especially me. I have no doubt it will come and that our defence will become better and help us.”
SLOVENIA
Uroš Zorman (SLO) – head coach
On Slovenia's performance so far:
“Before the championship, of course, nobody expected this many problems, a lot of really serious thoughts, nervousness and stress. And at the championship too. The first match, we know how the second one ended, especially from minus nine to plus three.
“The third one was already the way it should be. More or less good defence and really good defence, the attack at a maximum, almost to perfection, and that's it. We somehow grew from match to match.
“For a coach that is certainly a big plus. So we are coming to Malmö with two points, which nobody expected except us, because we truly believed in it because we trained for a whole month for that. Now we are here. We have our goals and our dreams, so we will see what it will give us.”
On their expectations:
“We go match by match, always. We are realistically with both feet on the ground.”
On the first game against Sweden:
“Full arena. The atmosphere will be excellent and that is certainly a plus for us because we like playing in front of a full arena. Maybe a little wind at our backs, so we'll see. We will give the maximum. We know that Sweden is a big favourite not only in our match, but also in this group. We will fight to the maximum and see what that match will give us and then what comes next.”
On the Swedish team:
“They have two players for every position, who are top-class. Even when they have some injury problems, they always find someone because they have such a deep pool of players. Everyone knows what handball means in Sweden, so there is a real player base there.
“They all play for top clubs across Europe, so what can I say, only superlatives. They play fast handball, strong defence, fast breaks, quick and clean return to defence. In general you have to try to find some weaknesses, but it's hard to find them. I still have a whole day to find something.
“What somehow encourages me is that throughout the whole history we have a positive record against them. And maybe that's their weakness or our advantage, which we can build on. But at the same time, we're not really in a position to talk about big things. With all the problems we have a young team, we're young, we have six debutants. So I'll say this, we'll give everything we have, prepare as well as possible, and in the end, let handball win.”
Tilen Kodrin (SLO) – left wing
On coming to the main round with two points:
“With all the problems we had, I wouldn't believe it. And I wanted that this three games would be a bit better or easier. I mean, this miracle against Switzerland was like, I don't know: I didn't play a match like that until now. Montenegro also.
“But I'm happy because I think that our last game against Faroe Islands was our best game, and it was like it gave us a good feeling for the second part of the tournament.”
On the first main round game, against Sweden:
“They are great. I saw them against Croatia. They played really good. But we are happy to play this game against Sweden and the full haul. We have nothing to lose. You can just gain a lot. And I think we have no pressure.”
On Swedish strengths:
“Their biggest strengths are for sure fans and really, really good team. They have two star players on every position. We saw also two great goalkeepers. I think the their handball is good in all phases, defence, attack and that is the biggest strongest point.”
On the main round group II:
“It's a really strong group. Maybe someone could say there's no France or Denmark. But still, for us these are really good teams. Also a strong tall guys a bit different than us, but, we'll try to stop them to run a lot, to play really fast and effective handball. That's it.”
Jože Baznik (SLO) – goalkeeper
On their expectations:
“The expectations were to come to the championship with the players we had. Even with all the problems we face, we knew these players are good players, playing good in their clubs. We had the confidence and faith in us, and we still do, but we still have to confirm it on the court, now in Malmö too. I am happy we showed team spirit. Now we have to continue in the next four games as the championship starts almost from zero. Our focus now is Sweden.”
On their main round opponents:
“Every game is going to be tough. We are playing against Sweden on their home court, a derby against Croatia against our neighbours, one more neighbour Hungary and Iceland with whom we still have some unsolved business from the last world championship.”
On the game against Sweden:
“Sweden is a great team. They have some young players as they do every year. Their rotation is great — they are a top team with players playing in top level clubs in Europe. They have their fans to back them up and you can see they have will and quality. Tight in defence, fast break and good goalkeepers. But we will give our best to show what we can do.”
Photo © kolektiff images
