Sweden lost an exciting match against European champion Slovenia.
After the match, NBA star Goran Dragic paid tribute to the Swedish fans and talent Billy Larsson.
– We ended up having a little fight and I told him after the match I liked the way he played, says the Miami Heat star.
Billy Larsson got a chance to drop a third and give Sweden the lead just seconds before the match. But in the end it was giant Slovenia that won their last World Cup qualifier at Hovet, 84-81.
“Don’t regret it, you have to take every opportunity you get and you have taken it ten times again, but it is bitter of course,” says Larson.
The 21-year-old, who plays college basketball in Arizona every day, made his international debut against Finland on Thursday. Against Slovenia, he made a real breakthrough with seven points and three rebounds and played strong defensively.
surprised star
It was Goran Dragic, the star of Slovenia and the Miami Hits, who was impressed. He paid tribute to both Larsson, Ludwig Hakansson and the Swedish fans after the match.
– It was a great atmosphere, you have great fans. We started well and played as fast as we do, but Sweden made some adjustments. They made their way across the screen, were aggressive and changed the pace of the match. We lost control a bit, but we are a very experienced team and we knew it wasn’t going to be easy. But we won and that is the most important thing.
Were you surprised that the Swedish national team was so good?
– yes! We knew it was going to be tough, we watched some matches, especially against Croatia and you have good players. No. 12 (Ludvig Håkanson) and I like the young man, No. 9 (Pelle Larsson). We ended up having a little fight and I told him after the match I like the way you play. “You are a strong player, so keep your head high.” You have a good team. You play hard and that’s the most important thing. Everyone knows their roles and you can see that. They pushed us to the end and challenged us, it was a good match.
“It doesn’t get any better than this”
Larsson was disappointed after the loss but is happy to play at home.
– It was fun to run a little, I haven’t played a game since April. It was fun playing against Sweden and wearing incredibly blue and yellow.
Hakansson also paid tribute to the Swedish audience.
– I don’t think he could be better than such matches. To be able to play for the star-studded Houpt team and the world’s stars will come here and we will stand up to them. I think that motivates everyone. And for us on the team, we’ve talked about it in the locker room now, that it’s the best thing ever. It’s my goosebumps every time I think about or talk about it. Every time we play in Stockholm it is packed in the ball or on the field. 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.
Is it possible to be proud despite the loss?
– It’s better if you ask in a few days, I will be very proud. There is a lot of talk about Luka (Doncic), but they have Goran Dragic, Zoran Dragic, Jaka Blasic and Mike Toby. All these players are at the highest level and the highest level and that we are here and we have the last chance to win against them. I’d be very proud, and I’m proud of that.