Sweden defeated Estonia 79–69 in Tallinn on Sunday, according to sources. This followed a home loss where Sweden lost to Estonia 77–88 at home on Friday. Sweden needed to defeat Estonia in Tallinn to have a chance of reaching the 2027 Basketball World Cup in Qatar.
The prospects of reaching the Basketball World Cup in Qatar next year are small after the loss on Friday, according to major media. Sweden is last in the qualifying group but has a chance to climb and also needs other results to go their way, according to sources. Three of the four teams in the group advance to the next qualifying round, according to sources.
Sweden had to manage without NBA star Pelle Larsson and key players Simon Birgander and Barra Njie, who are both injured. According to sources, Sweden started promisingly with a lead early in the match before Estonia came back. The score was tied 38–38 at halftime, according to sources.
The score was still tied 58–58 with eight minutes left in the final quarter, according to sources. Sweden then shifted gears and took a lead that they never relinquished, according to sources. Sweden won the final quarter by 14 points, according to sources.
Captain Ludvig Håkanson was the top scorer in the match with 18 points, according to sources. According to major media, Melwin Pantzar and Ludvig Håkanson stepped up for Sweden, as they often have before. Major media also reports that Pantzar and Håkanson carried Sweden to a strong victory.
The win does not give Sweden a better head-to-head goal difference against Estonia, according to major media. After starting the qualifiers with three straight losses, Sweden needs results in the remaining matches, according to major media. Sweden has two remaining matches in the qualifiers, against the Czech Republic and Slovenia in July.
Sweden plays at home against the Czech Republic on July 3 and away against Slovenia three days later, according to major media. The World Cup is held every four years and Sweden has never participated, according to sources. According to major media, Estonia was the strongest team at Avicii Arena on Friday.