Sweden's fine placement in this summer's European Championships gave many extra points to the world ranking as Sweden was placed ahead of better ranked nations such as Montenegro, Russia and Latvia.
- For SBBF and the national team management, the European Championship qualification is the obvious main focus in 2020, although before it is completed we hopefully have been able to play a historic Olympics. We do not want to be a dragonfly at this level that we have now started to establish, ”says Joulamo.
To succeed in a European Championship qualification is extremely important, as Sweden does not have the opportunity to qualify for the very largest tournaments like the Olympics and the World Cup if they have not succeeded in the European Championship qualifiers.
Next week Sweden will play qualifying matches against Israel and Montenegro, which SVT Sport broadcasts. And Joulamo warns that tough resistance is waiting.
- Montenegro is one of the twenty best basketball teams in the world and it will be tough on home soil, he says.