So the European Championship is played
24 teams are divided into four groups that are decided in Riga (Latvia), Tammerfors (Finland), Limassol (Cyprus) and Katowice (Poland). The four best teams in each group advance to the round of 16. The European Championship is held from August 27 to September 14.
The groups
Group A (Riga): Latvia, Serbia, Czech Republic, Turkey, Estonia, Portugal.
Group B (Tammerfors): Finland, Germany, Lithuania, Montenegro, Great Britain, Sweden.
Group C (Limassol): Cyprus, Spain, Greece, Italy, Georgia, Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Group D (Katowice): Poland, France, Slovenia, Israel, Belgium, Iceland.
Sweden's squad
Denzel Andersson, 28 years, Simon Birgander, 27 years, Tobias Borg, 32 years, Wilhelm Falk, 22 years, Viktor Gaddefors, 32 years, Ludvig Håkanson, 29 years, Pelle Larsson, 24 years, Mattias Markusson, 29 years, Barra Njie, 24 years, Melwin Pantzar, 25 years, Adam Ramstedt, 30 years, Nicholas Spires, 31 years.
Sweden's matches
August 27: Finland, August 29: Germany, August 30: Great Britain, September 1: Montenegro, September 3: Lithuania.
Sweden's chances
Since the mid-90s, Sweden has played the European Championship three times – and only won one of a total of 14 matches. It was against Russia in the last European Championship appearance, in Slovenia twelve years ago. And the build-up to this European Championship has offered four straight losses. Sweden must therefore surprise to advance to the round of 16. To succeed, it will likely require at least two wins and the greatest chance is expected for Sweden against primarily Great Britain, secondly Montenegro.
Sweden's star
Pelle Larsson has an NBA season with Miami Heat in his background and will have to bear a heavy responsibility now. Also the other Swedish NBA player, Detroit Pistons Bobi Klintman, was selected in the preliminary squad but was forced to withdraw due to injury.
How it went last time
Last time the European Championship was played was in 2022, when Spain won the gold after a final victory over France.
Gold favorite
Serbia had the USA's star-studded team on the hook in the Olympic Games semifinal in Paris last year, but had to give up in the end despite a 13-point lead before the last period. Now the Serbs, led by Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic, are favorites for the European Championship gold. Germany, which won the World Championship gold in 2023 after beating both the USA and Serbia, is seen as the main challenger.
International stars
Jokic we have already mentioned and there are more NBA giants who embellish the championship. Not least Greece's Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks) and Slovenia's Luka Doncic (Los Angeles Lakers). And already in the premiere, Sweden meets Finland's superstar Lauri Markkanen, who plays for Utah Jazz. In total, there are more than 30 NBA players in this year's European Championship. But some heavy names are also missing, such as France's Victor Wembanyama.
TV/radio
SVT and Radiosporten are broadcasting.
