The home World Cup came to an abrupt end for Swedish star Jim Gottfridsson.
In the quarter-finals against Egypt, he got caught in an opponent's jersey, sustained a spiral fracture in his metatarsal leg and the championship was over.
The 30-year-old, who underwent surgery in Gothenburg, then saw Sweden lose the semi-finals and bronze medal match.
After the World Cup sortie, it was rehab that mattered and on Sunday he was back in action again, in the victory of the club team Flensburg-Handewitt against Hamm-Westfalen.
And now Gottfridsson is back in Blågult.
"There is such hunger"
The star is part of coach Glenn Solberg's squad for the EHF Euro Cup matches against Germany on April 27 in Kristianstad and two days later against Denmark in Herning.
"The players are in an important period of the season when league play and European Cups are to be decided and I am happy that many of them are back from injuries and that there is such hunger and motivation to play with the national team," Solberg said in a press release.
However, goalkeepers Andreas Palicka and Mikael Appelgren are allowed to stay at home.
"This time we have chosen to give Tobias Thulin and Peter Johannesson the chance in the goal, it is a good time between the championships to test new constellations and we know where Andreas Palicka and Mikael Appelgren stand", says Solberg.
MORE HANDBALL: Gottfridsson on standing on the sidelines during the World Cup (January 26, 2023)
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Jim Gottfridsson's World Cup adventure is over after the injury. Photo: Bildbyrån