The Swedish basketball team lost 77–88 to Estonia in Stockholm on Friday evening, marking their third straight defeat in World Cup qualifying. Despite a strong comeback in the third quarter, Sweden couldn't hold on in the final period. The World Cup dream now seems distant, but the team is focusing on European Championship qualifying.
In Stockholm's Avicii Arena, with 9,364 spectators in attendance, Sweden faced Estonia in a crucial World Cup qualifier. Sweden missed NBA star Pelle Larsson and injured Simon Birgander, which was evident under the basket. The first quarter ended in a 22–22 tie, with Zaba Bangala scoring eight points for Sweden.
In the second quarter, Sweden struggled with rebounds and went into halftime trailing 36–46. The third quarter saw a turnaround thanks to Melwin Pantzar, who dominated with steals and gave Sweden a 58–57 lead heading into the final period. "It's fantastic. I felt I needed to get going, and sometimes you can start from defense," Pantzar said afterward.
Estonia woke up in the fourth quarter, however, and pulled away to an 88–77 victory. Ludvig Håkanson, Sweden's top scorer, was disappointed: "Very bitter. We're good at times but too inconsistent; they score too easily." Coach Mikko Riipinen criticized the team's start: "We came out with a subpar attitude and work ethic. And that's ultimately my responsibility." He was proud of the second half, though.
With three straight losses, the chances of reaching the 2027 World Cup in Qatar are slim—three wins in the remaining games are needed, but even that may not suffice. Captain Håkanson emphasized: "Our clear goal is to qualify for the European Championship. But the World Cup dream is still alive." The next match is a must-win against Estonia in Tallinn on Sunday at 6 p.m., described as "do or die" by Pierre Hampton.
