Andreas Palicka can play his sixth European Handball Championship in January. But he is not sure he will be there when Sweden's national team captain Michael Apelgren presents the squad on Tuesday.
An elbow injury kept the Norgeproffset out of action since the end of September, and it was only two weeks ago that the goalkeeper returned.
I felt it would be tight, it wasn't certain that I would even play this match, says the Kolstad goalkeeper after the comeback against Füchse Berlin in the Champions League (28-24 victory).
Despite the ten-week absence, he does not express any major stress over the European Championship.
I am who I am, I have the experience I have and I don't feel that I...
“That sounds stupid”
He values his words.
It sounds stupid, but because I was injured, I may not have had the same opportunity to prove myself on the pitch.
But I don't feel like I need to prove it that way, not to myself anyway. It's a feeling I have inside. If I'm ready for a European Championship, I'm ready for a European Championship. If the federation management thinks I'm good enough, they'll take me out. If they don't, they don't think so and then the others are better.
Palicka does not go into detail about what kind of elbow injury it was, but says that there was a turning point when it was decided that there would be no surgery.
Then I was given a line to follow and I have driven hard and with great zeal. I have had the European Championship as a driving force, it is something I want to do and now I am back.
A match from a teammate
With 175 international caps, Palicka is one of the most experienced players on the national team – only Jim Gottfridsson (176) has more in national team captain Michael Apelgren's squad for the upcoming European Championship at home. Since 2021, Palicka has also been the team captain.
Handball is not something you do your whole life. So with what you have, the history behind you and all the memories you have – and the fact that you still manage to maintain such a level – the European Championship is an incredible driving force to have ahead of you, he says.
The European Handball Championship in Sweden and Denmark runs from January 15th to February 1st.
Born: July 10, 1986 (age 39) in Lund.
Club: Kolstad.
Parent club: H43 Lund.
Other clubs: Redbergslids IK, Kiel, Aalborg, Rhein-Neckar Löwen and Paris Saint-Germain.
International caps/goals: 175/19.
Senior national team debut: Germany, 2007.
Biggest achievements: European Championship gold 2022, World Cup silver 2021, European Championship silver 2018, European Championship bronze 2024, two Champions League golds, seven German league golds and player of the year in Sweden 2020.
Current: Has returned to the handball court after a long-term injury. Selected in the preliminary squad for the European Championship on home soil.
Sweden's group stage matches:
17/1: Netherlands.
19/1: Georgia.
21/1: Croatia.
Sweden will play its group stage and possible intermediate round in Malmö. The top two teams in six four-team groups will advance to the intermediate round, where two six-team groups will be created.
The top two teams in the six-team groups advance to the semifinals, which, like the medal matches, will be played in Herning, Denmark.
The European Championship runs from January 15th to February 1st.
The handball masters will return with two international matches against Brazil, on January 5 in Jönköping and two days later in Partille.
