The players on the national basketball team were elated when they arrived at the mixed zone after Thursday's landslide victory 86-81 against Finland in Helsinki, while they were already looking forward to what awaits in front of a packed stadium at the Avicii Arena in Stockholm on Sunday.
Then the World Cup qualifiers continue against France - and 22-year-old superstar Victor "Wemby" Wembanyama.
We come there with confidence and have no pressure on us, says blue-yellow centre Simon Birgander.
17 points against Finland
The 28-year-old from Scania had a really good night at work in the Finnish capital. Birgander made seven of eight shots from the floor and was noted for 17 points in total. But it may be difficult to repeat that against France and Wembanyama, who was named the NBA's best defensive player last season after receiving 100 percent (!) of the first-place votes. At the same time, Wembanyama, who led France to Olympic silver in Paris in 2024, averaged 25 points per game for his San Antonio team.
"I actually have no idea how it will be. I've met a guy who is 2.23 and it's really difficult, but he's not quite as mobile as 'Wemby,'" says Birgander.
It's going to be great fun, there's nothing better than facing someone who in the future might be considered the world's best player ever. It's him and (Nikola) Jokic that I've wanted to play against and now I get to face "Wemby" anyway.
Doesn't it often happen that you, who are 2.10, feel small?
No, exactly. It's like you're going to guard me, laughs Birgander, looking down at TT's 181-centimetre-tall reporter.
France group stage
France beat Slovenia clearly, 92-67 at home, when the second phase of the World Cup qualifiers began on Thursday and tops the qualifying group with six wins.
After the victory in Helsinki, Sweden, together with Finland and Hungary, has four victories, second only to France.
"This was one of the best games we've ever played, it's really hard to win here against Finland, which is a great nation in basketball these days. Now it's going to be really fun to see how we stack up against the best," says Birgander.
Six teams are playing in the group and brought all the results from the first World Cup qualifying phase with them.
The second phase began on Thursday with the results Finland-Sweden 81-86, Hungary-Estonia 85-67 and France-Slovenia 92-67.
The standings in the group: France six wins, Finland, Sweden and Hungary four wins, Estonia and Slovenia three wins. The top three teams will reach the World Cup in Qatar in August-September next year.
The World Cup qualifiers will be decided with six matches divided into three windows, of which this is the only one where the NBA pros are involved. After the match against France on Sunday, the qualifiers continue as follows:
November 27: Sweden-Hungary, November 30: France-Sweden.
February 25: Sweden-Finland, February 28: Hungary-Sweden.
