Strong Swiss draw against Iceland

The last time the two teams met at the 2021 World Cup, the Swiss won 20:18. Now, the same number of goals were scored in the first half as five years ago - 19 each. Both teams played at a horrendous pace. In addition, the SHV team played much more variably than two days earlier in the 24:28 defeat against Croatia. They only trailed three times before the break. Three times they took a three-goal lead, the last time at 16:13 (25').

While the Swiss had suffered repeated, sometimes deep, dips in their play in their first five games at this European Championship, apart from the 43:26 thumping victory against Montenegro, this time they kept the level high for 60 minutes. They turned a 21:22 (34') deficit into 24:22 (36') and went three goals in front again at 26:23 (39'). The lead was still three goals at 33:30 (50'), but the strong Icelanders fought back and equalized in the 59th minute to make it 38:38. With 41 seconds remaining, Noam Leopold committed a harshly whistled forward foul, but the Swiss did not concede another goal.

Wingers Leopold (7 goals, including 2 penalties) and Gino Steenaerts (6) were their team's top scorers. Neither of them missed a shot, with Leopold being named the best player of the game. However, the Swiss were convincing as a collective in attack. Felix Aellen and Lukas Laube each scored five times, Lenny Rubin and Luca Sigrist four times each.

However, the one point was not enough to keep their already slim chances of reaching the semi-finals alive. Although there was little missing for the first victory in a European Championship main round, the draw is to be highly valued. The Icelanders were described as "secret favorites" before the tournament and underlined why, especially in their 35:27 win over hosts Sweden on Sunday. The Swedes will be the Swiss' last opponents at this tournament on Wednesday at 20:30.

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Switzerland - Iceland 38:38 (19:19)

Malmö. - 3470 spectators. - Refereed by Marin/Garcia (ESP). - Penalties: 6 times 2 minutes against Switzerland, 3 times 2 minutes against Iceland.

Switzerland: Portner (6 saves)/Scheidiger (1); Meister, Rubin (4), Manuel Zehnder, Aellen (5), Kusio (2), Röthlisberger, Maros (1), Steenaerts (6), Laube (5), Sigrist (4), Willecke (2), Leopold (7/2), Ben Romdhane (2).

Iceland: Hallgrimsson (8 saves)/Gustavsson (3); Rikhardsson (3), Smarason (2), Viggo Kristjansson (7/3), Gisli Kristjansson (5), Gislason, Magnusson (3), Gunnarsson, Vidarsson (8), Thorkelsson (8), Arnarsson, Thrastarson (1), Olfasson (1).

Remarks: Switzerland without Seravalli (has been ill), Küttel, Wanner (both surplus) and Samuel Zehnder (not fielded).