Claar missed the World Cup due to injury last year. Since then, his club Magdeburg, Champions League champions this summer, have played a total of 66 competitive matches. Add to that eight international matches in the year before the European Championship. And now nine European Championship matches over 16 intense days - if Sweden goes all the way to the fight for the medals.
We play as many matches as we want. It's really tough, and it really takes a toll on our bodies. Now in the European Championship there's a match every other day all the way through, says the Swedish midfielder.
Claar is surprised when TT tells him that there is even a match waiting for two matches on consecutive days at one point in the middle round.
In a row? Well, then it will be even tougher. But that's how championships are, and if you want to go far, you need trained players who are in good shape.
Players are not machines
The issue of the burden on handball players in the world elite is far from new. But recently the players' union once again aired its dissatisfaction with the slogan "Respect the players".
The message: Listen to the players. The total number of matches is too many. The players are people, not machines. Handball is a tough sport, but too many players are injured.
It's fun to play matches, but there has to be a limit, says Jonathan Carlsbogård, one of the players who speaks out in the campaign film.
How many matches did you play yourself last year?
I haven't actually counted. But there's a lot going on and new things are constantly coming in that you just have to come to terms with, says the Barcelona player, mentioning the launch of the new European Handball Games, which from 2030 are also intended to serve as Olympic qualifiers.
It's important to raise this in time, so that it doesn't just continue and more and more tournaments and matches come in.
"It's tough"
Michael Apelgren, who combines his job as national team coach with being a club coach at Hungarian club Pick Szeged, supports the players' union's call.
I agree. I don't see any reason why we have to play so many matches in the Champions League, for example. We don't have to have eight-team groups there. I think the championships are good in many ways, but it's tough when the break never comes, he says.
Sweden plays its third match in the European Championship against Croatia on Wednesday evening in Malmö.
Wednesday: Sweden–Croatia (Malmö, 8:30 p.m.).
Friday: Match in the middle round (Malmö).
Sunday: Match in the middle round (Malmö).
Next Tuesday: Match in the middle round (Malmö).
Next Wednesday: Match in the middle round (Malmö).
Next Friday: Possible semi-final (Herning).
Next Sunday: Possible bronze match/final (Herning).
