Lindqvist, Eriksson headline latest Sweden squad

STOCKHOLM (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers) - Sweden coach Vedran Bosnic is looking for the team to get a boost from captain Alexander Lindqvist and Marcus Eriksson for next month's World Cup Qualifiers against Turkey and Ukraine.

Hurt and unable to play in the November Qualifiers, with Sweden falling at home to Ukraine, 84-76, and away to Latvia, 82-73, each has been included for the upcoming games in February.

Sweden host Turkey at the Hovet Arena in Stockholm, with all 7,500 tickets having already been sold. The Swedes then play at Ukraine on February 26.

Lindqvist, 26, is still rehabbing from a knee injury that kept him out of the November Qualifiers while Eriksson, 24, was sidelined with a toe problem but is now playing.

"Alex was the team captain last summer and is a big part of this team," Bosnic said. "He is one of the younger leaders who can bring a lot to the national team now and in the future.

"Alex's status is a big question for all of us and we are following his rehab. We hope he's ready at the end of February."

Eriksson had a memorable 25-point explosion in Sweden's 81-73 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina at the start of the Pre-Qualifiers. He drilled 5 of 9 shots from behind the arc in that game.

Eriksson's showcased his scoring abilities against Bosnia and Herzegovina in last August's Pre-Qualifiers 

Simon Birgander is a young, promising center who also couldn't play in the first two Qualifiers but should be on the roster if healthy.

"Our hope is that we can use Marcus, Simon and Alex in these games, something unfortunately we couldn't do last time and of course, the team was affected."

"That motivates us to provide everything to our amazing supporters," he said.

FIBA