Sweden premieres against Finland in Tampere on Wednesday evening, in what will be Blågult's first European Championship match in twelve years.
The goal is to reach the round of 16, but for Swedish men's basketball, something bigger and more long-term is also at stake. In a heated meeting with the neighboring country, at prime broadcasting time on SVT, there is a first chance to hopefully reach through the noise to the broader masses.
If we were to do a really good European Championship, I think the whole country would take basketball as a sport more seriously. And sports work like that, if someone is good, it inspires and more people want to engage in the sport, says Pelle Larsson the day before the European Championship premiere.
"A fun responsibility"
A brand new example is how Truls Möregårdh has given Sweden a significant boost of table tennis fever over the past year. And in Swedish men's basketball, there is no doubt that it is Pelle Larsson who is the player who will show the way in the European Championship, to which the 24-year-old comes with a successful debut season in Miami Heat in his baggage.
I'm just grateful to be in that situation (as a role model and star). It's not why I'm doing this, but it's a plus and a fun responsibility that comes with the role I have, says Pelle Larsson.
At the same time, he sends a thank you to his national team comrades for being able to make his championship debut at all. Because it was they who solved the European Championship qualification while Larsson's NBA season was ongoing.
I haven't done anything yet, really, but just come in at the end, he says with a laugh.
"As important as possible"
National team coach Mikko Riipinen instead gets to put words to Pelle Larsson's importance for Blågult in the European Championship:
Pelle is as important as possible for us.
He is incredibly all-round and that is Pelle's absolute greatest strength, that he can contribute in so many different ways. He can have five steals in a match, he can play defense on both larger and smaller players, he can make 20-30 points in a match, he can contribute with passes.
Finland is making its sixth consecutive European Championship this year and reached the quarterfinals last time, three years ago.
Pelle Larsson likes the tough challenge that awaits against the host nation:
It will probably be very much blue and white in the stands. But sometimes away matches are almost more fun - to get to have the villain role and be "the bad guy" and play a little tougher. It's going to be really fun.
Carl Göransson/TT
Facts: This is how Sweden plays in the basketball European Championship
TT
Sweden plays the entire group stage in Tampere. Of the six teams in group B, four will advance to the round of 16.
Sweden's opponents:
August 27, Finland.
August 29, Germany.
August 30, Great Britain.
September 1, Montenegro.
September 3, Lithuania.
