PHOTO: Bildbyrån
He is Blågult’s team captain, key player and figurehead – almost 17 years after his debut.
Only six Swedes have had longer national team careers than Andreas Palicka.
– That’s cool. Of course you feel pride, says the goalkeeper star ahead of the EC premiere.
Andreas Palicka was only 21 years old when, at the end of 2007, he got to try out for the A national team game for the first time. This year, it has therefore been 17 years since the debut – but there is no doubt that Palicka is still holding on.
The European Championships in Germany will be the eleventh major championship for Lundapågen, who has been fully featured in the national handball team during the last two national team captains, Kristján Andrésson and Glenn Solberg.
– I am proud of all the international matches I have played. But it is the period that I feel has been the most rewarding. From 2017 onwards, when I have really grown into the national team and been involved regularly, says Palicka.
Three medal memories
It is also from that time that he highlights his three strongest national team memories: the European Championship semi-final against Denmark in 2018, the World Cup semi-final against France in 2021 and the European Championship final against Spain in 2022.
The article continues after the picture.
The Denmark match in Zagreb first:
– We were big outsiders, had struggled our way into the tournament after we lost the opener against Iceland. We had injury problems and played, among other things, with Mattias Zachrisson (normally right-handed number six) as right-handed nine – and he was absolutely awesome. And I think I myself made one of my best international matches ever.
The World Cup semi against “Les Bleus” in Cairo is probably remembered by many for Palicka’s insanely acrobatic “stamp rescue”.
– It’s sequences like that that make certain matches special for you. And the way we dominated against France, despite having an outsider stamp all tournament. It was a special period (during the covid pandemic) and the media had their attitude towards the team and our chances before the WC (Sweden had nine championship debutants). That we then performed at such a high level in that semi-final… We deserved 25,000 people in the hall, but unfortunately there were no spectators then.
Finally, the crowning achievement, the EC final victory against Spain in Budapest:
– Actually, there was something magical about the whole final weekend (Sweden first beat France with the odd goal in the semis). All the margins were on our side and there were top performances from the whole team in two matches. Our coolness in decisive moments, from important saves to winning the defensive job and that legendary timeout. And that we then get a penalty in the last attack and Niclas Ekberg goes in and scores it… It will never leave one. That moment sits in the soul and flows in the blood, says “Palle”.
READ MORE: Handball icon Magnus Wislander reveals his favorite football team – confirming what everyone always suspected
Premier against Bosnia
Thursday’s European Championship opener against Bosnia-Herzegovina in Mannheim should be a fairly easy match, but later in the tournament, Palicka and Sweden hope to create new magical national team memories that might even make it to the top 3 list.
And then? Can Palicka reach the record as Thomas Svensson have? The former great goalkeeper’s national team career lasted 20 years.
Palicka doesn’t rule anything out, but…
– No, I don’t think I can solve that. I turned 37 here this summer. If I’m good enough, I’m aiming for the Olympics this summer, then we’ll see. I have a contract with Paris for one more year after that. What happens next is written in the stars.
How do you think it is going for Sweden in the handball EC? Share the article and have your say!
20 year:
Tomas Svensson 1988-2008
19 years:
Magnus Wislander 1985-2004
18 years:
Kim Andersson 2001-2019
Matthias Andersson 1998-2016
Staffan Olsson 1986-2004
Mats Olsson 1979-1997
17 years:
Andreas Palicka 2007-2024
Ola Lindgren 1986-2003
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