Jerry Tollbring Withdraws from Swedish Handball EM Due to Injury, Replaced by Felix Montebovi

Jerry Tollbring, the 30-year-old left winger, has been forced to withdraw from the Swedish national handball team for the upcoming 2026 European Championship (EM) due to a calf injury. This tournament, hosted in Sweden and set to begin on January 17, would have been Tollbring's first championship appearance since 2020. Despite feeling in good shape, medical evaluations confirmed he was not fully recovered, leading to his exclusion from the squad.

Head coach Michael Apelgren emphasized the importance of fielding fully healthy players for the demanding tournament, stating that the decision was made in cooperation with the medical team. He expressed sympathy for Tollbring, acknowledging the player's hard work to return to the national team.

In Tollbring's absence, 20-year-old Felix Montebovi from HK Malmö has been called up to the squad. Montebovi, with three previous international caps, will make his championship debut and described the call-up as a dream come true, while sympathizing with Tollbring's disappointment.

Additionally, left winger Lucas Pellas is also sidelined due to injury, further impacting Sweden's lineup ahead of the EM. Sweden's first match will be against the Netherlands at Malmö Arena, followed by a final rehearsal against Brazil.