World Cup opener against Brazil.
Then Andreas Palicka played big – who was moved by the audience in Gothenburg.
– It was close to tears, he says.
Sweden finally played for the first time in the WC, at home in Gothenburg, against Brazil. And it was noticeable that it was a WC premiere. Sweden were favourites, but didn’t quite get up to par. The match consisted of many mistakes, missed free throws, and occasionally rusty play by Sweden.
“I’m touched”
But there was one player who played as if it were the WC final. Andreas Palicka, the Swedish veteran in goal, had one of the best games of his career. He made 17 saves, and only allowed 18 goals in the game, which Sweden won 26-18. Palicka also responded by scoring a goal in the match, and during the entire premiere he fired up the home crowd, with lively greetings and victory gestures.
The crowd responded by paying tribute to their goalkeeping hero with songs and chants. And afterwards Palicka was taken, by the tributes and by the support.
– Incredible feeling of course, hard to take in. I am moved, I am an emotional person. I could not in my wildest dreams have imagined that my career would look like this, says Andreas Palicka.
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Was close to tears
Even before the match, Palicka noticed that there was something very special about the crowd, and he says that he was moved even before the first minute.
– I enjoyed something terrible. I almost had tears in my eyes during the national anthem. It is a special feeling to play here in Gothenburg, he tells Expressen, and continues:
– I’ve said it before: This feels like my living room. It is the best arena in the world in my opinion.
Andreas Palicka has turned 36 years old, and afterwards he was poked by the big star Jim Gottfridsson, who, however, also took the opportunity to pay tribute to him.
– Old man is probably the right word, says Gottfridsson.
– He is getting old. But he is incredibly quick to react. World class.
For Sweden, two, on paper, easier matches now await in the form of Cape Verde on Saturday, and Uruguay on Monday.
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