Swedish Handball Goalkeeper Andreas Palicka Suffers Eye Injury Ahead of EM 2026

The Swedish national handball team secured a 33–24 victory against Brazil in a warm-up match ahead of the European Championship (EM) 2026, but the game took a worrying turn due to an injury to key goalkeeper Andreas Palicka. Palicka, who had recently returned from an elbow injury, was hit in the face by a shot from Brazilian star Bryan Monte shortly after entering in the second half. The impact caused a bleeding injury above his eye and nose, forcing him to leave the field and later requiring hospitalization for specialist examination.

Swedish national team doctor Arnar Sigurdsson reported that Palicka suffered a bleeding in the eye but remains optimistic about his recovery. He stated, "He will not train in the coming days, but we have good hopes that after a new assessment he can return to training at the beginning of next week and be ready to play in the EM premiere." Palicka expressed relief after seeing a specialist quickly, saying, "I feel much better today, and I am happy that the hopes of me being back fully at the beginning of next week are high."

During the same match, Mikael Appelgren started as goalkeeper and recovered well after an early shaky start, earning praise for his performance. Fabian Norsten replaced Palicka after his injury and helped secure the win. The situation for Sweden's first-choice goalkeeper remains uncertain, with coach Michael Apelgren noting that the team continues to consider options.

Sweden is set to begin its EM 2026 campaign on January 17 against the Netherlands in Malmö, with subsequent group stage matches against Georgia on January 19 and Croatia on January 21. The tournament itself starts on January 15 and will be hosted across Sweden, Denmark, and Norway.

Meanwhile, team preparations also focus on finding the optimal lineup for other positions, such as the left wing, where Eric Johansson is favored but faces competition from Jonathan Carlsbogård and promising youngster Nikola Roganovic. Oscar Bergendahl is confirmed as the starting line player for the championship.

The injury to Palicka marks a challenging moment for the Swedish team just days before the tournament, but medical assessments provide hope for his participation. Coach Apelgren and the squad continue to adapt, aiming for a strong performance in the European Championship.