In just over two weeks, the Swedish basketball men will finish the first round of the World Cup qualifiers with matches against Finland (June 30) and Slovenia (July 3).
But it will be without Chris Czerapowicz if refused.
- Already in November, he told us in the coaching staff that his two best friends in the US will get married and that he is the best man at both weddings, and therefore he will miss this camp, says Ludwig Degernäs, one of Sweden's national coaches, to SVT Sports.
- We have had a great dialogue and he has always stood up for the national team.
We will of course miss Chris but we fully respect his decision.
What does it mean for the team that he does not play?
- Of course we will miss Chris.
He is our captain, experienced and spreads a very calm in the group so now it will be a challenge for us coaches and I see in front of me that players like Tobias Borg and Ludde Håkanson must take greater responsibility with their leadership qualities.
Sweden is recharging before the qualifiers with a training camp in Södertälje 20-22 June.
After midsummer, a match away against Finland awaits, which has been strengthened by NBA player Lauri Markkanen.
- It is a better team on paper now than when we met it before, says Degernäs.
- It is important to resist their intensity and play with the same smartness and team chemistry that we had against Finland last time.
Sweden, which finishes the qualifier against Slovenia, is third in the group.
The three best teams advance to the second World Cup qualifying round.