Tomas Axnér presented the World Championship squad on Monday and he did not offer any surprises that made the country's handball connoisseurs raise an eyebrow.
All 16 players who were selected for the European Championship qualifier earlier in October. Including Thea Kylberg, the right-back who made her national team debut in the spring and now gets to do her first championship.
We think that Thea Kylberg has taken big steps, we also see that she has done very well in the environmental change in Ikast, says Axnér about the 21-year-old who left Sävehof before this season.
Two goalkeepers
Tomas Axnér has chosen to select only 16 players, compared to 17 or 18 in previous championships. Johanna Bundsen and Filippa Idéhn are the team's only goalkeepers, while third choice Evelina Eriksson will be on standby from a distance and can be flown in to the World Championship if needed.
It costs quite a lot of power to be the third goalkeeper at a championship. We, in consultation with the goalkeepers, feel that we have a good plan for how they (Eriksson) can prepare at home, says the national team captain.
Axnér has a lot of routine in the squad, where the average age is around 29 years.
On paper, it's a very strong squad and we have many who play in top teams in Europe, which we haven't really had before, he says.
Premiere against the Czech Republic
Sweden meets the Czech Republic, Cuba, and Brazil in the group stage, which begins in Stuttgart on November 27. The three best teams in the group advance to the intermediate round in Dortmund for meetings with the top three from the group with Norway, Angola, South Korea, and Kazakhstan.
Axnér inserts one or two caveats, but then states:
Sweden and Norway should be favorites to advance (to the quarterfinals).
Sweden is after a medal, in which case the first in a championship since Axnér became national team captain in 2020.
This is the vision we are going to this championship with.
The European Championship squad gathers in Halmstad on November 18 and prepares with two matches against Denmark, first in Næstved on November 20 and then in Halmstad two days later.
Goalkeepers: Johanna Bundsen, Metz, Filippa Idéhn, Ikast.
Left six: Clara Lerby, Nykøbing Falster, Elin Hansson, Esbjerg.
Middle six: Linn Blohm, Györ, Anna Lagerquist, Györ, Olivia Löfqvist, Esbjerg.
Right six: Mathilda Lundström, Horsens, Nathalie Hagman, Györ.
Left nine: Jamina Roberts, Ikast, Tyra Axnér, Metz, Kristin Thorleifsdóttir, Schaeffler.
Middle nine: Emma Lindqvist, Ikast, Jenny Carlsson, Molde.
Right nine: Nina Koppang, Esbjerg, Thea Kylberg, Ikast.
The World Championship is played in Germany and the Netherlands, November 26-December 14.
