Even if Sweden wins tonight's fateful match against Croatia (kick-off at 18:00), the team is dependent on two other results to reach the semi-finals of the European Handball Championship:

  • Hungary-Slovenia is played at 15.30 and Slovenia must win  

  • Norway-Denmark is played at 20.30 and Norway must win

The fact that the matches are played at different times opens the door for teams to bet on results.

Already semi-finalist Norway could, for example, choose to lose on purpose, depending on the opposition they want to face in the semis.  

The arrangement is questioned by Swedish national team captain Tomas Axnér.

In an interview with DN, he suggests that the schedule be changed, so that the last matches in each group stage are played at the same time.  

- You have to ignore TV rights and audiences to make it as sporting as possible, he tells the newspaper. 

"Is about the access to halls"

Stefan Lövgren, a member of the European Handball Federation's executive committee, is aware of the criticism.  

- It is the constant balancing act.

Tomas' mission to take care of the sporting aspect, and the sporting aspect should, as far as possible, guide all decisions.

But on the other hand, you have to solve all the practicalities of finding organizers and arenas, he tells SVT Sport.  

- Playing all the matches at the same time, I think everyone can agree, is a practical impossibility.

It is about the access to halls and so on. 

Spanish celebrations provoked reactions

The debate about the playing system at the EC actually started already a week ago.

Spain celebrated a goal from behind to make it 23-21 in the final minute of the game against Germany, as the Spaniards knew it was better if they won by two balls instead of three. 

Stefan Lövgren explains that each tournament is evaluated afterwards and that decisions about what the game system looks like is a constantly alive discussion.

For example, there is a Nations Board where all the countries' confederations sit together.   

- So to say anything now is a little too early.

But it will surely come up in the future.

I fully understand and react just like everyone else emotionally when you see things happening.

There are advantages and there are absolutely disadvantages to any system.