Where and when?

The match between Sweden and Germany will be played at Hovet, Stockholm, on August 25 with kick-off at 6:30 p.m.

This is how SVT broadcasts

18.15-20.30: SVT/SVT Play

Here is a link to the broadcast in SVT Play

How does the qualification work?

The second round of the WC qualifiers consists of four groups, with six teams in each group.

The top three teams in each group advance to the 2023 World Cup to be played in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia. 

Sweden's group: Germany, Finland, Slovenia, Israel, Estonia.

The teams take the points from the first round with them.

This gives the following position before the qualifier:

Germany (11 points), Finland (11), Slovenia (10), Israel (9), Sweden (8), Estonia (8). 

Sweden plays six matches.

Two each against Germany, Israel and Estonia.

How good is Germany?

Germany tops Sweden's group from the points in the first round and is ranked eleventh in the world, to be compared with Sweden's 50th place.  

The German team is also expected to have several NBA players in the squad.

However, the team's biggest star Dennis Schröder will miss the game due to an injury, according to the German Basketball Association.

The same goes for key players Daniel Theis and Moe Wagner.

The expert: "Increased expectations the greatest resistance"

And the opposition is nothing that deters SVT's basketball expert Nick Rajacic.

He points to how Sweden in the last World Cup qualifying match against Slovenia (ranked fifth in the world) showed that the capacity is there.

The team was one shot away from winning but ultimately fell 81-84 after great drama. 

- Sweden's biggest opponent in this match will be the increased expectations.

Now we know that the team can deliver at such a high level that they have the shot for the win against a world team like Slovenia.

So the mental part becomes important: not to have any sacrifice jacket, but to compete to win.

Not least considering that Germany is missing three of its best players due to injuries.

So what does it take to beat Germany?  

- To follow the gameplan and that the key players deliver.

Then I think above all of Ludvig Håkanson and Simon Birgander.

And of course Chris Czerapowicz, the team captain, who missed the Slovenia match because he was at a wedding.

And so the Swedish defense must maintain a high level.

They must do everything to slow down Germany.

If it is a high-scoring match, Sweden will not win, says Nick Rajacic.

Sweden's tortuous path to the second round

Of six matches in total in the first round, Sweden won only two (the first meeting with Finland and Croatia respectively).

Despite that, the Swedish team advanced to the second round as third in the group.

Progression was secured thanks to Finland, who by defeating Croatia in their final group stage match kept the blue-and-yellow World Cup dream alive.