Sweden travel to Serbia without Källman

Sweden has been hit hard before the start of the EHF EURO 2012 in Serbia: After learning that right-back Oscar Carlén will not be able to participate at the EHF EURO due to the second rupture of a crucial ligament in a year, Jonas Källman has had to pull out too.

The left-winger of the Swedish NT and top Spanish club Atletico Madrid has to undergo heart surgery. "I had some heart tests in recent months and the results were not good. It’s terrible to miss the EHF EURO, but I have to take care of my health," Källman said.

National team coach Staffan Olsson commented on the decision of his most experienced field player: „He’s made the right decision, and I fully understand why he had to withdraw from the squad."

So, Swedish hopes are lower than one year before, when they finished fourth as the host of World Championship 2011 – and qualified directly as the host of an Olympic Qualification Tournament (6 – 8 April 2012).

"Currently, we don’t know exactly what our team will look like in Serbia," defensive specialist Tobias Karlsson said: "The last steps of the preparation will determine our team roster."

Before leaving for Serbia, the Swedish team has a huge preparation programme ahead: Next weekend they play at the "Croatia-Cup" against Iran and Slovakia and also in a placement match.

The final rehearsal will be two test matches against Russia on 10th and 11th January in Malmö and Kristianstad.

NT coaches Olsson and Ola Lindgren have nominated the following squad of 17 players for those final steps:

Goalkeeper: Mattias Andersson, SG Flensburg-Handewitt; Andreas Palicka, THW Kiel; Johan Sjöstrand, FC Barcelona


Field players: Henrik Lundström, THW Kiel; Fredrik Petersen, Bjerringbro/Silkeborg; Magnus Jernemyr, FC Barcelona; Tobias Karlsson, SG Flensburg-Handewitt; Niclas Barud, IK Sävehof; Andreas Nilsson, IFK Skövde; Niclas Ekberg, AG Köpenhamn; Mattias Zachrisson, IF Eskilstuna Guif; Jonathan Stenbäcken, Fuchse Berlin; Kim Ekdahl Du Rietz, HBC Nantes; Dalibor Doder, GW Minden; Jonas Larholm, AAB Aalborg; Kim Andersson, THW Kiel; Johan Jakobsson, AAB Alborg

At EHF EURO 2012 Sweden will face Germany, Macedonia and Czech Republic in their Preliminary Round games of Group B in Nis.

Further information

Download the Official EHF EURO 2012 Playing Schedule (pdf)

Buy your EHF EURO 2012 tickets HERE.

Ticketing is managed by the Serbian Organising Committees. Should you need further assistance for buying your tickets, please contact via email: tickets@rss.org.rs

Find more information on the tournament on the official website www.ehf-euro.com/SRB2012/

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