Israel's U21 Handball Team Falls to Sweden in European Championship Opener

Israel's under-21 handball team began their European Championship campaign with a 42-33 defeat against reigning champions Sweden on July 8, 2026. Despite the loss, Israel showed strong performance in the first half, maintaining a close game and even taking the lead twice. The halftime score was 17-16 in favor of Sweden.

The match started well for Israel, with Asaf Sharon scoring the first goal and goalkeeper Alon Ruzbi making several key saves. Israel managed to keep pace with Sweden through goals from Ariel Sheharvani, Jonathan Pelech, and Itamar Goldstein. However, turnovers allowed Sweden to regain and extend their lead gradually in the second half.

Coach Pomernatz called a timeout to regroup, and Israel narrowed the gap to 24-22, but Sweden steadily increased their advantage, eventually securing a double-digit lead. Israel's scorers included Asaf Sharon with eight goals, Jonathan Pelech and Ido Chernovilski with five each, and several others contributing as well. Alon Ruzbi made seven crucial saves throughout the match.

Looking ahead, Israel will focus on their remaining group stage matches against Bosnia on Thursday at 12:00 and Romania on Saturday at 17:00. These games are critical for Israel's chances to advance further in the tournament.