"I think we are maintaining a high level. If we can equalise the game over 40 minutes, we can go even further," says Larsson in Expressen's broadcast.
Larsson showed immediately that he was ready. The NBA Swede scored the team's first seven points of the game and finished with a total of 31 points.
Sweden thus advances to the second and decisive World Cup qualifying round for the World Cup in Qatar 2027. There they will face Finland, France and Hungary.
It will be fun to be there and face the big teams, says Swedish centre Simon Birgander, who grabbed 13 rebounds in the game.
Sweden's winning formula was, just like against the Czech Republic on Friday, a good defensive game and trying to run away from the opposition. Against the Czech Republic, the Swedes got tired towards the end; this time the energy held throughout.
It was only during a spell at the end of the first half that the Swedish game dipped. A 13-point lead quickly shrank to five.
In the second half, Sweden kept the lead at a stable level of around ten points.
"I'm very proud of everyone, including myself. We've been building this for a long time," says national team coach Mikko Riipinen.
Larsson was the top scorer with 31 points, followed by Bobi Klintman on 16 and Melwin Pantzar on 14.
