Almost three years ago, Ekberg decided the European Championship final against Spain in Budapest with a penalty in the last second.
The following year, at home in the World Championship where Sweden finished fourth and he himself was selected for the All-star team, he made his last championship. Later that autumn, Ekberg said goodbye to the national team.
He has left Kiel and moved home (Ystads IF) but he looks exactly the same as usual. He jumps incredibly high and always puts the ball in the goal, says Michael Apelgren about the right-back who has played 210 national games and scored 841 goals.
I thought it was reasonable as a new national team captain to get in touch with everyone on the top shelf and listen to them. Ekberg maintains the level that can make a difference for us.
"Most important that he's eager"
That Daniel Pettersson had injury problems during the autumn (concussion) also contributed to Apelgren really wanting to get Ekberg.
The most important thing is that he's eager, that he thinks it's going to be fun to be involved and we have no demands on him, says Apelgren.
And the most important thing he can contribute with is if he throws the ball into the goal, that's what he's best at.
Two championship debutants are also selected, goalkeeper Fabian Norsten and right-back Edwin Aspenbäck.
The World Championship is played in Denmark, Croatia, and Norway and starts on January 15. Sweden came fourth in the last World Championship and took bronze in the European Championship earlier this year. The new national team captain Michael Apelgren, who took over after Glenn Solberg earlier this autumn, says he has France and Denmark as favorites in the upcoming championship.
They feel mega-strong, have the best teams, there's no doubt about it, he says.
Tough draw
The status of the Swedish national team is a bit uncertain at the moment, considering many injuries during the autumn and that several key players have not been in their best form.
That's the weakness. But I believe in these people, I believe they can achieve more than what's on paper, says the national team captain.
He says that Sweden got a very tough draw since they will likely face Norway and Portugal in the intermediate round and also likely have Spain from the first group stage. Only two teams from the intermediate round advance to the quarterfinals.
It's extremely tough with Norway, Portugal, and Spain, he says.
Ingela Ahlberg/TT
Facts: World Championship squad
TT
Goalkeepers: Andreas Palicka, Paris Saint-Germain, Tobias Thulin, Pick Szeged, Fabian Norsten, Ålborg.
Left-back: Hampus Wanne, Barcelona, Lucas Pellas, Montpellier.
Centre-back: Max Darj, Füchse Berlin, Felix Möller, Ålborg, Oscar Bergendahl, Magdeburg.
Right-back: Niclas Ekberg, Ystads IF, Sebastian Karlsson, Montpellier.
Left-wing: Jonathan Carlsbogård, Barcelona, Eric Johansson, THW Kiel.
Centre-wing: Jim Gottfridsson, Flensburg-Handewitt, Jonathan Edvardsson, Hannover-Burgdorf.
Right-wing: Albin Lagergren, Magdeburg, Edwin Aspenbäck, Holstebro, Lukas Sandell, Veszprem.
The World Championship is played in Denmark, Croatia, and Norway from January 15 to February 2.
Sweden plays in group F in Bærum outside Oslo together with Spain, Japan, and Chile and also plays the intermediate round in Bærum.
The semifinals are played in Zagreb and in Bærum and the final and bronze match in Bærum.
The Swedish squad gathers in Malmö on January 6 and meets Iceland in two national games, on January 9 in Kristianstad and on January 11 in Malmö.
