Sweden missed a golden opportunity to advance from the intermediate round at Malmö Arena to the European Championship semi-finals in Herning, Denmark.
Instead, Palicka's last match for the national team was a placement match against Portugal on Friday. There, Sweden lost 35–36 when Portugal decided it in the final seconds. This means Sweden finished sixth at the European Championship.
To finish with a home championship in front of the home fans at the age of 39. If someone had told me that when I was a little boy, I wouldn't have believed it was possible, he says, visibly moved in the television interview.
And not after 2009, when I lost two years due to a serious injury.
Proud of the European Championship gold
Palicka suffered a serious thigh injury in 2009 that took a very long time to recover from.
"It is in adversity that my successes are born. I have found a lot of drive in my life in difficult moments and never gave up. I want to be remembered as someone who always did everything for the shirt and never gave up," he says.
He has played in two Olympics, six World Championships and six European Championships for Sweden. Four years ago, Palicka lifted the European Championship trophy - the Blues' first championship gold in 20 years.
I'm proud of a lot, but the feeling of lifting the European Championship trophy in front of my friends, knowing what was behind it to get there - I can never describe that feeling in words.
He also has a silver medal at the European Championship (2018), a silver medal at the World Championship (2021) and a bronze medal at the European Championship (2024) on his list of achievements. In total, he has played 185 international matches for Sweden.
“There is no one better”
Palicka continues to play for his Norwegian club Kolstad, he has a contract until 2027. When asked about the future, he replies that he wants to find a way to "portion out his knowledge", that he wants to become a "handball dad".
There is no one better than Andreas to bring out the new Palicka, says former goalkeeper and now expert commentator Claes Hellgren to Viaplay.
