Sweden’s Handball Squad for Euro 2024: A Blend of Experience and Rising Stars
Sweden has announced its 18-man squad for the upcoming Euro Handball Championships, hosted on home soil in January. The team, a carefully curated mix of seasoned veterans and exciting young talents like Nikola Roganovic and Axel Månsson, aims to capitalize on home advantage and make a deep run in the tournament.
Home Advantage and a Challenging Road Ahead
This marks the third time Sweden will host the Men’s Euro Handball Championships. Having hosted solo in 2002, they co-hosted in 2020 with Norway and Austria. The 2026 edition will be a joint effort with Denmark and Norway, but the initial group stages for Sweden will unfold in Malmö and Kristianstad. Malmö will also host a main round group, with the final stages taking place in Herning, Denmark. The pressure of playing at home is undeniable, but Head Coach Michael Apelgren believes it will ultimately be a positive force.
Key Players Return from Injury
Coach Apelgren has a significantly larger pool of players to choose from compared to the 2025 World Championships. Crucially, several key players sidelined by injury are now available. Felix Claar, Max Darj, Oscar Bergendahl, and Daniel Pettersson all return to bolster the squad. The return of veteran goalkeeper Andreas Palicka, who battled back from a recent injury, is particularly significant. Palicka’s experience and shot-stopping ability will be vital in crucial moments.
The inclusion of 19-year-old Nikola Roganovic and 20-year-old Axel Månsson signals a commitment to nurturing the next generation of Swedish handball stars. Both players have impressed at both club and international levels, and their inclusion adds a dynamic element to the team.
The Rise of Young Talent in Swedish Handball
The emergence of Roganovic and Månsson isn’t an isolated incident. Sweden is experiencing a surge in young handball talent, fueled by increased investment in youth development programs. According to a recent report by the Swedish Handball Federation, participation rates in youth handball have increased by 15% over the past five years. This investment is paying dividends, creating a deeper talent pool for national team coaches to draw from.
Pro Tip: Keep an eye on the development of youth handball programs in your region. Supporting these initiatives can help foster the next generation of athletes.
Preparation and Upcoming Friendlies
The Swedish national team will convene in Gothenburg on January 2nd and will play two warm-up matches against Brazil on January 5th (Jönköping) and January 7th (Partille). Demand for tickets to these matches has been exceptionally high, with both games nearing sell-out status. Brazil, who upset Sweden, Norway, and Spain at the previous World Championship, presents a tough test ahead of the Euro Championships.
Euro 2024: Group Stage and Beyond
Sweden’s Euro 2024 campaign begins on January 17th in Malmö Arena against the Netherlands. They will then face Georgia on January 19th and Croatia on January 21st, also in Malmö. The group stage is notoriously competitive, with only the top two teams from each group advancing to the main round. Apelgren emphasizes the need for consistency and a flawless performance in every match.
Did you know? Sweden has a strong track record in handball, having won multiple medals at both the World Championships and the European Championships.
The Economic Impact of Hosting Major Sporting Events
Hosting the Euro Handball Championships is expected to generate significant economic benefits for Sweden. Tobias Frejfors, CEO of Handbolls-EM 2026 Sverige AB, highlights the anticipated influx of tourism and the positive impact on local businesses. A 2023 study by the European Sports Economics Association estimated that hosting a major sporting event like the Euro Handball Championships can boost a host city’s economy by up to €50 million.
SVERIGES TRUPP TILL EM
Målvakter:
12. Andreas Palicka, Kolstad Håndball, 175 A-landskamper/19 mål
Tidigare mästerskap: 13 (VM 2009, EM 2012, VM 2017, EM 2018, VM 2019, EM 2020, VM 2021, OS 2021, EM 2022, VM 2023, EM 2024, OS 2024, VM 2025)
20. Mikael Appelgren, KC Veszprem, 101/2
Tidigare mästerskap: 7 (EM 2016, OS 2016, VM 2017, EM 2018, VM 2019, EM 2020, VM 2023)
51. Fabian Norsten, Ålborg Håndbold, 17/0
Tidigare mästerskap: 1 (VM 2025)
Vänstersex:
9. Jerry Tollbring, Ribe-Esbjerg HH, 73/215
Tidigare mästerskap: 6 (EM 2016, OS 2016, VM 2017, EM 2018, VM 2019, EM 2020)
15. Hampus Wanne, Høj Håndbold, 115/458
Tidigare mästerskap: 9 (EM 2018, VM 2019, VM 2021, OS 2021, EM 2022, VM 2023, EM 2024, OS 2024, VM 2025)
Mittsex:
5. Max Darj, Füchse Berlin, 132/158
Tidigare mästerskap: 10 (VM 2017, EM 2018; VM 2019, EM 2020, VM 2021, OS 2021, EM 2022, VM 2023, EM 2024, OS 2024)
6. Felix Möller, Ålborg Håndbold, 35/65
Tidigare mästerskap: 3 (EM 2022, OS 2024, VM 2025)
32. Oscar Bergendahl, SC Magdeburg, 65/102
Tidigare mästerskap: 5 (VM 2021, EM 2022, VM 2023, EM 2024, OS 2024)
Högersex:
11. Daniel Pettersson, SC Magdeburg, 99/225
Tidigare mästerskap: 7 (EM 2020, VM 2021, OS 2021, EM 2022, VM 2023, EM 2024, OS 2024)
13. Sebastian Karlsson, Paris Saint-Germain, 36/105
Tidigare mästerskap: 3 (EM 2024, OS 2024, VM 2025)
Vänsternio:
2. Jonathan Carlsbogård, FC Barcelona, 90/175
Tidigare mästerskap: 7 (VM 2021, OS 2021, EM 2022, VM 2023, EM 2024, OS 2024, VM 2025)
25. Nikola Roganovic, HK Malmö, 4/7
Tidigare mästerskap: 0
42. Eric Johansson, THW Kiel, 52/147
Tidigare mästerskap: 4 (EM 2022, VM 2023, EM 2024, VM 2025)
Mittnio:
19. Felix Claar, SC Magdeburg, 84/236
Tidigare mästerskap: 6 (VM 2021, OS 2021, EM 2022, VM 2023, EM 2024, OS 2024)
24. Jim Gottfridsson, Pick Szeged, 176/535
Tidigare mästerskap: 12 (OS 2016, VM 2017, EM 2018, VM 2019, EM 2020, VM 2021, OS 2021, EM 2022, VM 2023, EM 2024, OS 2024, VM 2025)
27. Axel Månsson, IFK Kristianstad, 3/4
Tidigare mästerskap: 0
Högernio:
23. Albin Lagergren, SC Magdeburg, 131/410
Tidigare mästerskap: 12 (OS 2016, VM 2017, EM 2018, VM 2019, EM 2020, VM 2021, OS 2021, EM 2022, VM 2023, EM 2024, OS 2024, VM 2025)
33. Lukas Sandell, Rhein-Neckar Löwen, 78/202
Tidigare mästerskap: 7 (VM 2021, OS 2021, EM 2022, VM 2023, EM 2024, OS 2024, VM 2025)
KOMMANDE LANDSKAMPER
5 januari, 18.10: Sverige–Brasilien (Husqvarna Garden, Jönköping)
7 januari, 18.10: Sverige–Brasilien (Partille Arena)
Biljetter • Matcherna sänds på SVT
17 januari, 20.30: Sverige–Nederländerna, EM (Malmö Arena)
19 januari, 20.30: Georgien–Sverige, EM (Malmö Arena)
21 januari, 20.30: Sverige–Kroatien, EM (Malmö Arena)
Biljetter • Matcherna sänds på Viaplay
EM 2026
Datum: 15 januari–1 februari 2026
FAQ
Q: Where will the Euro Handball Championships 2024 be held?
A: The tournament will be held in Sweden, with group stage matches in Malmö and Kristianstad.
Q: Who are some of the key players to watch on the Swedish team?
A: Andreas Palicka, Felix Claar, Jim Gottfridsson, and the emerging talents Nikola Roganovic and Axel Månsson are key players to watch.
Q: What is the significance of hosting the Euro Championships on home soil?
A: Home advantage can provide a significant boost to the team, both in terms of performance and fan support, and also has a positive economic impact on the host cities.
What are your predictions for Sweden’s performance at Euro 2024? Share your thoughts in the comments below! Don’t forget to explore more handball news and analysis on our website. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest updates.
