The 36-year-old from Lund has made two great performances in the WC before, but had to start the match against Iceland on the bench in favor of Tobias Thulin.
But Palicka came in later – and as he did. On the retina after the match there are, among other things, some insanely acrobatic saves of typical Palicka style. And then that expulsion when “Palle” became furious with Ellidi Snær Vidarsson, who laid on the ball when Palicka wanted to start a quick counterattack.
“It was not the intention to hit him in the stomach,” says Palicka in a television interview with Aftonbladet.
There were many TV interviews for Andreas Palicka after the big game. When he finally, almost an hour after the final whistle, came to the writing press, he asked not to talk any more because he had a bit of a headache.
Fantastic, was the only word he got out.
And that word was also a perfect description of Palicka’s game this Friday night in Gothenburg.
“Spectacular”
A total of eleven rescues were made in front of a powerful soundscape in Scandinavium.
— It’s not just that he saves the balls, he also does it in a spectacular way. It’s certainly good television, I would think, says national team captain Glenn Solberg with a smile.
“With the level of excitement he had, I can understand that he got a bit of a headache after a match like that,” the Norwegian continues.
It wasn’t just Andreas Palicka’s performance that made Solberg happy this evening.
When Iceland had taken a three-goal lead just before the break, it looked a bit ugly for Sweden, but in the end there was still no talk of the matter.
— Very proud and very satisfied with all the players. In the end we see that they (Icelanders) get tired and worn out. We get saves and keep running and win comfortably, says Solberg.
“Is important”
Even now, Sweden can also start preparing for Wednesday’s quarter-final in Stockholm. The result in Sunday’s match against Portugal has no significance for Sweden, who have already secured the group victory in the intermediate round.
“We wish to win all the matches we play in, but at the same time it is the quarter-finals that are our focus now,” says Solberg.
Denmark or Egypt will most likely be waiting in the quarterfinals.
— What do you say in Sweden – plague or cholera? They are two extremely good teams. Denmark knows we are big World Cup favorites and Egypt beat Croatia well with nine goals and we lost to them in the Olympics, says the national team captain.
Sweden, on the other hand, has won eleven straight championship matches now – and is better than ever under Solberg’s leadership?
— I hope so, that we have developed. It feels like we’re making strides all the time, especially in the counter-attack. In addition, we have a fantastic breadth.