The conditions for reaching the EC this summer were crystal clear:
Sweden needed to win the two remaining games – and the big one – to reach the basketball party.
First test of fate: Israel in Tel Aviv.
With Amanda Zahui, and sisters Eldebrink, Frida and Elin in the team, Sweden started the match weakly and trailed after the first period.
But then Sweden played themselves up and went to the halftime break with a lead, 32–31.
Then came the collapse.
Because the third period became pure nightmare. Sweden didn’t get their game going and sloppy quite a lot, while Israel scored one three-pointer after another.
A miracle was needed to turn the game around – but no, it wasn’t going to happen this time. Israel took an, in the end, easy victory and the final numbers were written at 71–57.
The result means that the Swedish EC dream is over for this time.
Sweden ends the EC qualifiers with a meaningless match at home at the Avicii arena in Stockholm against Latvia on Sunday.
The EC will be played on June 15–25 in Israel and Slovenia.