She almost felt like it would never work.
As if this national team would never succeed.
But it doesn’t matter that it was Lauri Markkanen and Finland who pushed Sweden the most in the World Cup qualifiers – this amazing gang is not to be ashamed.
I am very impressed these days. Not much is needed. So when a toddler gets Luka Doncic’s signature on top of a tank, he takes it to see if it’s really true and then cuddles on top of the tank and then his dad activates the tear ducts.
It was great to see all the young fans on the field. Both those who stayed in Sweden and those who might have followed the NBA and came to see Doncic. Courtside sat among others Alexander Isaac, Diane Kulusevsky Dirk Nowitzki.
There were many who wanted to watch this match. She was special when the Swedish national basketball team played on the globe and on the court. The atmosphere was charming and the entertainment was of high quality.
Advance new heroes forward
Gradually, the interest in basketball for the Swedish national team increased and the match against Slovenia was a kind of climax.
As Ludwig Haakkanson said:
– I don’t think he could be better than such matches. To be able to play for Houpt which is full of stars and the world stars will come here and we will face them, I think that motivates everyone. The kids know who we are, and they follow what we’re doing, and that wasn’t the case ten years ago when I started on the national team. It makes me very proud there is already something good going on and I think we in the team feel it.
But it was an unwinnable match. Against Slovenia who won gold at the European Championships and finished fourth in the Olympics (only Klemen Prepelic was missing) and who has one of the world’s top five players on the team.
At the same time, Sweden lacks many of its characteristics. But it doesn’t seem like it matters as long as Ludvig Håkanson is allowed to play in front of his fans. Or as long as Victor Gadefors does what Victor Gadefors does and Simon Bergänder shows more and more that he’s starting to grow into the inner player that Sweden has dreamed of. Or as long as Tobias Borg contributes to his routine and pace and the new champions move forward.
Denzel Anderson did so against Finland and also handed over important trios against Slovenia. But more than he impressed Billy Larson and Melwin Pantzar. Courageous and energetic young woman.
No need to apologize
Larsson ignited the crowd when he first hit two points and then lowered the third so Sweden got 24-25 in the second half. He was a giant in defense as he rotated on Luka Doncic and when he finished third open at 81-82 in the final seconds, the perfect finish hung in the air.
The biggest sensation in basketball for the Swedish national team hanging in the air The court held its breath.
But Billy Larson’s shot was resounding. Like many times before for this national team. And if there is something to rub, it is precisely that Sweden has been close so many times. They performed and outperformed, but they always fell on the finish line and the championship door was closed right in front of them.
In addition to the last match against Finland, Sweden had a chance in all the matches of this qualifier. Against Croatia they should have taken it.
But the match in Sweden in February, where seven points (one more than an away win) fell after double extensions and a 15-point lead in the first half looked like an injury that would take a long time to heal.
Then Lauri Markkanen put in the third goal four seconds before the match against Croatia and suddenly Sweden entered the final round of qualifying for the World Cup.
Nobody needs to apologize for that. Sweden got a small starting point in these qualifiers. They fought and toiled and were beaten and beaten.
Now more magical meetings await in the world and in the stadium after summer.
It could not be better.
