On December 11, Michael Apelgren will present his squad for the home European Championship. On January 17, the Netherlands will be waiting in the opening match at Malmö Arena.
Apelgren has two different international matches against Spain to evaluate before selecting his team.
When it was 30–34 in Linköping on Thursday, the defense was the big problem. It was significantly better in Eskilstuna on Saturday night when they won 34–31.
Damaged stick
Today we appear more like the Sweden we want to be, Apelgren tells SVT.
Veteran goalkeeper Andreas Palicka, 39, has been the first choice in many championships, but he is suffering from an injury and is not yet back in action.
Apelgren's first choice at the moment is Fabian Norsten and the Aalborg goalkeeper played great against Spain in Eskilstuna. It gave a completely different stability in the defensive game.
"I have to admit that it's a kind of relief. I've felt a little frustrated that I somehow didn't get out what I have in me. It's incredibly nice to come away from here with a proper and good performance," Norsten tells SVT.
Great fun to watch, says Michael Apelgren and continues:
We know what's inside him. If we invest in him now, he'll waver a little sometimes and sometimes you'll see the potential there.
Norsten feels grateful to have been given the chance again after a tough night against Spain on Thursday.
It's easy to say you're trying something different. "Micke" had a plan at the beginning of the week and he stuck to it. I'm grateful for that, says the 25-year-old.
During the current collection, Tobias Thulin and Simon Möller were also selected, but Apelgren seems to see Norsten as the first goalkeeper in the European Championship.
“Be in the driver’s seat”
Right now, we want a goalkeeper in the driver's seat, we believe in him a lot. But we understand that he won't be able to play 60 minutes in every match.
Six-goal scorer Hampus Wanne is a given player in the European Championship squad, but it is more open about the second spot as left-back.
Lucas Pellas has suffered a setback in his rehabilitation and has not yet returned to play with club team Montpellier.
Jerry Tollbring was then called up to the squad against Spain and in the second match the 30-year-old scored three goals. Injured Tollbring has not played for the national team since the home European Championship in January 2020.
The Men's European Handball Championship will be held from January 15 to February 1. The host countries are Sweden, Denmark and Norway.
Sweden will play its matches in the first group stage in Malmö and will face the Netherlands (January 17), Georgia (January 19) and Croatia (January 21).
Even in a possible intermediate round – the top two in six four-team groups advance – Blågult will play in Malmö. Semifinals and medal matches will be played in Herning, Denmark.
Sweden's upcoming international matches:
January 5: Brazil in Jönköping (18.10).
January 7: Brazil in Partille (18.10).
