Sweden's men's beach handball team with modest ambitions

Jesper Knutsson, coach of Sweden's men's beach handball team, says he has nominated the best players available, but a podium finish at the 2013 European Beach Handball Championship in Randers (9 to 14 July) is still beyond reach.

"Our main goal is to do better than we did at our latest international championship (at the 2011 European Beach Handball Championship in Umag, Croatia) where we finished last.

"This means that if we can finish second from the bottom this time, it will be a progress," Jesper Knutsson told eurohandball.com.

"There are some tough teams in our group, and they are probably all more or less at a higher level than we are at this point.

"However, we were close to defeating (defending European champions) Croatia not so long ago, so of course anything is possible.

"Our preparations have been very promising, even though we have not been abroad like so many other teams.

"Instead, we have been preparing entirely here in Sweden. Among other things we have played two elite tournaments, of which we won the latest one, in Helsingborg a few weeks ago, so we seem to be on the right track.

"Anyway, I consider our squad to be the best we can form out of the players who are available in Sweden,” Jesper Knutsson added.

Seven from the eight players Knutsson nominated play for Torslanda HK. They are joined by Erik Nilsson who plays for Alingsas HK.

At the European Championship in Randers, Sweden are seeded in group A together with defending champions, Croatia, Ukraine, Hungary, Serbia and Turkey.

Information about the European Championship

The 2013 European Beach Handball Championship throw off in Randers, Denmark, from 9 to 14 July 2013.

Entry to the event area for spectators is free. There are no tickets necessary.

Defending champions in both the men's and the women's event are the teams from Croatia.

For more information and to keep up to date visit also the event's official website and become a fan of the EHF's beach handball Facebook page.