Sweden Defeats Slovenia at Handball Euros – Vranjes Receives Hero’s Welcome

Sweden remained the only undefeated team in Group II of the European Handball Championship’s main round after a dramatic second-half comeback against Slovenia on Friday evening. The Swedes secured a 35-31 victory, a result that significantly strengthens their position in the tournament. Borut Mackovsek, a Slovenian left back playing for Szeged, contributed two goals, while Mikael Appelgren, the Veszprém goalkeeper, finished with three saves in a match that also saw former coach Ljubomir Vranjes become a focal point.

Currently the sporting director of German club Flensburg, Vranjes enjoyed a successful career as both a player and a coach. He won World and European Championships as part of the Swedish national team, and also earned an Olympic silver medal. As a coach, Vranjes led Flensburg to a Champions League title before taking the helm of Veszprém and the Hungarian men’s national handball team in 2017.

Ljubomir Vranjes Takes Center Stage During Sweden-Slovenia Handball Clash

From 2019 to 2022, the Swedish coach also served as the head coach of Slovenia, making Friday’s match particularly poignant. Vranjes was an honored guest at a pre-game ceremony and remained to watch Sweden’s comeback unfold. The atmosphere reached a fever pitch in the 50th minute when the arena’s jumbotron focused on Vranjes, sparking a massive ovation from both sets of supporters, celebrating his presence.

Ultimately, it was Sweden celebrating, as their four-goal victory propelled them closer to securing a spot in the next round.