The Swedish debutant is praised after his European Championship debut

Stick out – despite blue-yellow nightmare opening

Sweden lost the European Championship premiere in basketball after a German shock opening.

But championship debutant Fanny Wadling was praised unanimously.

– I would like to have her on the field even more, says star Klara Lundquist.

There was barely time for vomiting before Sweden found itself in a serious uphill battle.

Germany was several numbers bigger and did whatever they wanted with the Swedes in the first period.

The Swedes were on their heels and could not stop the German offensive at all – and after half the match they were down by a full 17 points.

– I’m actually quite frustrated. I don’t think we’re playing tough enough and it feels like something’s missing, says expert Amanda Zahui, the basketball star who has retired from the national team, on SVT’s broadcast.

Stand Up

At times it looked bleak against the favorite German team, but Sweden would recover and won the third period by an eight-ball margin.

But the early German shock opening was too much for Sweden and Germany won 89–76.

– We need to come up for as close to 40 minutes as possible and stay focused and play the best basketball we can. Because we need to perform at our best here to have a chance and I think we can do that, says Klara Lundquist to Sportbladet.

The debutant is praised

One exclamation point was 28-year-old championship debutant Fanny Wadling, who lives in Luleå. She was praised by SVT’s experts, Zahui and Nick Rajacic, for her defensive performance, where she grabbed ten rebounds and made four blocks.

– I told you so. She’s so good: X-factor!, says Zahui.

Klara Lundquist joined the chorus of praise.

– She is incredible and so important for us. She comes in from the bench and really makes a difference. I would love to have her on the field even more, because she is such a key player in defense and attack for us. She is like that little extra, she says.

Fanny Wadling herself was a little more modest.

– I just try to come in and do what I can to contribute energy and be aggressive. That’s what I try to do and I think I managed to do that. Then you always remember the little mistakes that lead to points for them. So it feels a bit of both, she says.

In the second match in Sweden’s group, group favorite Spain won against Great Britain 85–70.