The stars in the semi-finals did not stop Sweden.
A sprained foot did not stop Andreas Palicka.
The goalkeeper played great when Sweden won the EC bronze medal match against Germany with 34–31 and at the same time secured an Olympic place.
Before the return in the handball temple Lanxess Arena, German goalkeeper Andreas Wolff was praised when he received the award as the best goalkeeper of the entire EC tournament.
But this afternoon he wasn’t even the best cage keeper on the pitch.
Instead, it was Andreas Palicka who once again showed his ability to bring out his best game when it matters most. Palicka, who badly sprained his foot in the semi-final, presented himself immediately with a save in Germany’s first attack. When the 37-year-old made his tenth save and immediately afterwards Sebastian Karlsson played free with a precise long pass, Blågult led 14–7. Kvicke Ḱarlsson was a sharp counterattacking threat and the goal was his fourth in the match.
German comeback
Just two days ago, it was Sweden who was behind by seven goals, in the semi-final against France. Then Blågult then stood for an incredible turnaround, only to be robbed of the “miracle in Cologne” in the end when the referees chose to approve the French’s equalizing goal in the last second.
Now it was the host nation’s heroes, loudly backed by the majority of the roughly 19,000 spectators, who were under pressure to try to repeat Sweden’s turnaround.
The Germans made a valiant attempt. Palicka was not as fortunate after the break and was replaced by Tobias Thulin and the Swedish lead was just 24-21 when Glenn Solberg called a timeout with more than a quarter of an hour to play.
Two quick goals by Felix Claar – the EC’s best Swede – extended the lead to five goals, but Germany did not give up.
Can play the Olympics
The home team crept closer, Palicka came back, but the lead shrunk to the odd goal. Then he stepped forward with some important saves again, the enormous Palicka. And when Claar shot 33-30, Germany didn’t have much time left to wave.
With the victory, Sweden can celebrate both an EC bronze and a secured place in the Olympics in Paris this summer. Immediately after the match, the Swedish players gathered in a great heap of joy.
The feeling when the blue-yellow championship is to be summed up is still bittersweet, considering that the team missed the chance to play in the final and defend the European Championship gold from 2022.
CARL GÖRANSSON/TT
TT
First group game: Bosnia-Herzegovina 29–20, Georgia 42–26, Netherlands 29–28.
Intermediate round: Slovenia 28-22, Denmark 27-28, Portugal 40-33, Norway 23-33.
Semi-final: France 30–34 (after extra time).
Bronze medal match: Germany 34–31.
TT
EC 2024: Bronze.
WC 2023: Four.
European Championship 2022: Gold.
Olympics 2021: Out in the quarter-finals.
WC 2021: Silver.
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