The Swedish national handball team is now starting the season, which has the European Championship at home in January as its highlight. Two national team matches against Spain on October 30 and November 1, as well as two meetings with Brazil in early January, are expected to make Sweden European Championship-ready.
Against Spain, the national team will have to do without team captain and goalkeeper star Andreas Palicka, who has an elbow injury and is out for an indefinite period.
In his absence, Michael Apelgren has Fabian Norsten as the first-choice goalkeeper.
But there are several good ones behind him, so there is no explicit responsibility on him to save everything, says Apelgren at a digital press conference.
Lucas Pellas, Oscar Bergendahl, and Max Darj missed the World Championship at the beginning of the year. Darj was back in the national team matches later in the spring, but Apelgren is very happy that Pellas and Bergendahl are also whole and healthy now.
They are players with experience and class. Having them with us now makes a huge difference for us. They are a lot of our DNA in the national team and are also leader types.
That Sweden chose to meet Spain has its reasons.
We are challenged by many tactical things. It is a developing nation to meet, and it will not happen the same things all the time, says Apelgren.
The matches will be played in Linköping on October 30 and in Eskilstuna on November 1.
Facts: The squad for the Spain national team matches
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Goalkeepers: Tobias Thulin, Pick Szeged, Simon Möller, Toulouse, Fabian Norsten, Ålborg.
Left six: Hampus Wanne, Høj, Lucas Pellas, Montpellier.
Central six: Max Darj, Füchse Berlin, Felix Möller, Ålborg, Oscar Bergendahl, Magdeburg.
Right six: Daniel Pettersson, Magdeburg, Sebastian Karlsson, Paris Saint-Germain.
Left nine: Jonathan Carlsbogård, Barcelona, Nikola Roganovic, Malmö, Eric Johansson, THW Kiel.
Central nine: Felix Claar, Magdeburg, Jim Gottfridsson, Pick Szeged, Axel Månsson, Kristianstad.
Right nine: Albin Lagergren, Magdeburg, Lukas Sandell, Rhein-Neckar Löwen.
