Cairo (AFP)

In Cairo, where Sweden won its last world title in 1999, a young Scandinavian generation unashamedly wants to put the kingdom back on the international stage.

This by a victory Friday over France, which supplanted it as the dominant nation.

Time goes by, and Magnus Wislander, now 56, has forgotten certain details of the Egyptian adventure lived more than 20 years ago.

"I remember well having received a red card and having fought with a spectator ...", distils to AFP the legendary center-half, elected player of the XXth century by the International Federation (IHF).

Now a consultant for Swedish Radio, Wislander still keeps in mind the joy of a second world coronation (after 1990) in Egypt, he who also won four Euros (from 1994 to 2002) with the golden generation: Stefan Lövgren , Staffan Olsson, Magnus Andersson ... Their eternal regret will remain for having failed three times in the Olympic final, in Barcelona, ​​Atlanta and Sydney.

The Swedish empire suddenly died out at the turn of the millennium, giving way to an even more powerful rival, France, which overtook it in the medal table (6 Worlds, 3 Euros, 2 Olympic Games).

"It is always difficult to keep a high world level in the long term. What France has done for 25 years, while other countries are experiencing ups and downs, is incredible," admires Wislander.

The Swedes have well known the hope of a revival at the 2011 World Cup at home (4th), then in 2012 at the London Olympics, beaten by nothing in the final by the French (22-21), and again at the Euro 2018 in Croatia, dominated in the final by the Spaniards (29-23).

But they haven't been scary for a long time.

- Weak championship -

"The problem in Sweden", a country six times less populated than France, is that it lacks arms, explains Wislander.

"We don't have enough players in the clubs, not enough audiences in the halls. The championship clubs come from small towns. There are three in Gothenburg but none in Stockholm, the capital where the people are and the businesses that matter. "

The Swedish nuggets have therefore gone into exile: Alfred Jönsson (22) plays in Hanover, Felix Claar and Lukas Sandell (23) in Aalborg (Denmark), Lucas Pellas (25) in Montpellier and Valter Chrintz (20) in Berlin.

One of the keys to the Swedish revival.

"Of course it's better to play in Germany or France, but the most important thing is that they have playing time in these clubs. Players like Carlsbogard, Gottfridsson, Wanne, Palicka have a big time of club play and that's what gives them experience and helps them progress. "

- A Norwegian coach -

Progress which the new coach Glenn Solberg, a former Norwegian international, benefits from in Egypt, from his first competition at the head of the Scandinavian neighbor.

Winner on the wire of the host country in the first round (24-23), the young Swedish team then neutralized Slovenia (28-28) before disposing of Qatar in the quarters (35-23).

"I am surprised and very happy with the way they have played so far," Wislander says.

"It's a new team, nine players are in their first major tournament and many have less than ten caps under their belt: Jönsson, Carlsbogard, Persson, Sandell, Pellas haven't played much for Sweden."

The future is therefore promising for the Swedes, with the luxury of time to forge a common experience.

In attack, the team seduces by its fast play and its combinations in the axis or the wings;

in defense, left back Jonathan Carlsbogard (25) and pivot Max Darj (29) burst the screen.

"Carlsbogard is one of the best defenders in the tournament for me, and Max Darj is everywhere, before the opponent can get dangerous."

The Swedes, however, lost right-back to Ivry Linus Persson, another good surprise from the group, and must "gain muscle" to hope to compete with the best.

For Wislander, "France is favorite, but you never know ..."

© 2021 AFP