France Wins EHF Euro Cup in Nail-Biting 33-32 Victory

France clinched the EHF Euro Cup title with a dramatic 33-32 win over Sweden, thanks to a blocked shot in the final seconds that sealed the victory for 'Les Experts'.

France clinched the EHF Euro Cup title with a thrilling 33-32 win over Sweden in Gothenburg. The victory secured first place in the tournament for teams that have already qualified for the 2026 European Championships.

The match began at a frenetic pace, with both teams trading leads and sharing eight goals in the first four minutes and 12 seconds. Sweden briefly took a two-goal lead, going 6-4 up through goals from Albin Lagergren and Hampus Wanne.

France briefly took the lead, but Dylan Nahi, Melvyn Richardson, and Theo Monar's goals gave them a 12-9 advantage by the 19th minute. However, Michael Apelgren's team responded strongly, with Feliz Moller's goal narrowing the gap to 13-12 heading into halftime.

What a game of power in the #highlightgame between two huge teams. 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 🇫🇷 take the win against a combative Sweden 🇸🇪#ehfeuro2026 #puregreatness pic.twitter.com/r4z3Tky1Xr

— EHF EURO (@EHFEURO) May 7, 2025

The second half began where the first left off, with both teams trading goals. France's five goals were matched by the hosts, ending the half at 18-18. Moller scored the final goal with just three seconds remaining, securing a dramatic tie.

In the second half, Sweden briefly took the lead, but France regrouped and took the advantage, despite some crucial saves from Sweden's goalkeeper Andreas Palicka.

Lukas Sandell leveled the score at 31-31 with a stunning goal from the top corner with just five minutes left. However, Sweden couldn't build on the momentum, and Melvyn Richardson's two goals ultimately sealed the win for France.

As the clock ticked down to the final minute, Felix Claar narrowed the gap to a single goal, setting the stage for a thrilling conclusion. France then missed a crucial shot, handing Sweden a chance to equalize. Lukas Sandell took aim with just three seconds remaining, but his shot was blocked, securing a 33-32 victory for France, who earned the nickname “Les Experts” for their clutch performance.

France's Nicolas Tournat led the charge with six goals, while Sweden's Sebastian Karlsson topped the scoring chart for his team with five goals.

Sweden currently sits third in the group standings with four points after five matches, trailing behind Denmark. Their final EHF Euro Cup match will be against Denmark.