Sweden missed a golden opportunity to advance from the intermediate round in Malmö Arena to play in 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 after the Portuguese decided the match in the final seconds. This means Sweden finished sixth at the European Championship.
"The tireless love and respect I have received from the fans and the pride of having worn the national team jersey so many times cannot be described in words. These are things I will carry with me for the rest of my life," he says in a press release from the Handball Association.
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.
"To be able to lift it in front of my teammates, knowing what we have sacrificed and paid to achieve it together, is the greatest thing I have experienced in my handball career and something that has shaped me as a person."
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 played 185 international matches for Sweden.
