Sweden got off to a flying start at the Euros as the Netherlands were beaten in front of packed stands in Malmö. On a personal level, however, Hampus Wanne had a tougher evening, scoring just once from five attempts. But the experienced left wing is not making a big deal out of it.
“There’s no time to dwell on things. I’ve had the woodwork on my side many times before – this time it was against me,” Wanne tells GoHandball.
Hampus Wanne’s tournament opener was clearly more post-and-out than post-and-in, and one goal from five shots is not something you usually see from one of Europe’s most experienced and decorated left wings.
“I was really fired up for the match, and I think that showed in my shots – I was trying to put too much power into them,” he says with a smile.
“It’s good to have had those first shots hit the crossbar and the post, but going forward I need to show a bit more composure in my finishing.”
The tough start to the championship does not seem to have affected the 32-year-old at all. At Sunday’s press meeting, Wanne was just as calm as he usually is.
“There’s no time to dwell on things. There are so many matches left to play, and dwelling only costs energy. I’ve had the woodwork on my side many times – this time it wasn’t. I’ll just keep grinding.”
Clear first choice more than ever before
Wanne is not the only left wing in the squad, as championship debutant Felix Montebovi has also been selected for the position. However, Wanne is clearly the first-choice option on the left flank, especially after Jerry Tollbring’s injury forced him to withdraw, with the inexperienced Montebovi stepping into the Euro squad instead.
“It was probably a shock for Felix, and of course unfortunate for Jerry, who had the chance to come back after some time away from the national team and injury. For me personally, it’s much more about keeping my body in good condition. Normally, if it had been me and Lucas Pellas selected, I would have known that since I played against the Netherlands, he probably would have started against Georgia. So the big difference now compared to recent tournaments is having more focus on keeping my body in good shape.”
Have you ever been this clear first choice in your position in the national team before?
“No, I haven’t. But I hope and believe that Montebovi will get his chance to show himself and that he’ll perform well. There could be a lot of matches, so I hope he can deliver when he gets the opportunity.”
How do you see Felix as a player?
“He’s a very typical wing player, with spin shots and tricks. He can be very entertaining to watch when he’s in form and full of confidence. I think he can become as good as he wants to be,” says Hampus Wanne.