It was reported that German star Dennis Schroeder missed the Sweden match.
But the national team suspects Germany is obscuring the star’s status.
– This could be a match where we put in energy, says national team captain Mikko Rybinin.
Despite losing to Slovenia, Sweden advanced to the final round of World Cup qualifiers. Now the national basketball team faces Germany at home in the first game.
But Sweden still doesn’t know if the team’s biggest star, Dennis Schroeder, will be there.
– We have information from both sides. It’s not here now, but we also know that more people are arriving from Germany this evening. You don’t have to be a player, but you can be, says federation captain Mikko Rybinin.
Are they trying to get dark?
– It’s hard to tell if there is a blackout or not. We have read in the German media that no decision has yet been taken and that it could be moved at a later time. We know he’s not here right now, but this could be a game for us to put energy into. This is a big important factor.
Sweden without the star
Schroeder, who plays on a daily basis in the NBA and Boston Celtics, flexed his foot last week and so it’s an unconfirmed card. The only NBA player guaranteed to play against Sweden is Orlando Magic’s Franz Wagner after Germany also struggled with injury problems with Daniel Thies, Isaiah Hartenstein, Maximilian Kleber and Moritz Wagner.
They have many rest periods, but they also have unparalleled breadth. With breaks, they still have 1-2 NBA players and 6-7 players in the Euroleague. These club titles don’t go far, says Rebinin.
Sweden also suffered a severe injury and were forced to adapt without star player Ludwig Haakansson.
– it’s huge. Can not knit under a chair. If you look at his numbers, his experience and how he was on the set, it is very difficult to be without him, says Rebinin.