At the end of August, Sweden plays two qualifying matches for the Basketball World Cup, first at home against top nation Germany, then away against Israel.

Sweden has now presented the gross squad of players who will participate in the matches.

See the entire squad in the fact box at the bottom.

SVT's basketball expert Nick Rajacic thinks it was an expected squad given that the core has played together.

- Absolutely, it's a good group.

But Nick Spiers is not in it.

He has had a big role in the national team since 2016, but he injured his hand against Finland in June, so I guess his absence is because of that.

Then there is Mattias Markusson who is 217 centimeters tall, so there are replacements in the center position, says Nick Rajacic and adds:

- This group is a good basketball team.

I don't remember when Sweden has had a better men's national team.

The squad will eventually be reduced to twelve players, then Rajacic believes that Elias Desport and Barra Njie, who are without international matches, will be removed.

- Desport is there because Nick Spires and Adam Ramstedt are missing, they need more centers in training.

Barra Njie is very talented and will play in the national team in the future.

But right now there are better guards, such as Ludvig Håkanson, Melwin Pantzar, Pelle Larsson and so on.

Both are involved and have a role, but it's for training.

With this squad, how do you feel about the World Cup qualifiers against Germany and Israel?

- The feeling is very good.

Germany will bring four NBA players and a lot of Euro League players, so they are big favorites.

But now it's about taking the next step, showing that the match against Slovenia was not a coincidence, that you are competing against Europe's best, he says and continues:

- Since Israel gone, they are also very good but not as good as Germany.

The goal is still European Championship 2025. They will probably not get through this World Cup qualifying group.

What they need to do is gather some routine, win some matches and show themselves that they are ready to compete against the best.