Heiko Rannula, the head coach of the Estonian national basketball team, has chosen to bring 14 players to Stockholm for the World Cup qualifying matches against Sweden, though he has withheld the names of the two players who will be cut from the team. The first match is scheduled for February 27 in Stockholm, followed by another game on March 1 in Tallinn. These matches are crucial for both teams, with each game contributing to the overall standings in the qualifying process.

Rannula emphasized the importance of maintaining composure under pressure, recalling past experiences with tight and significant games. He expressed the hope that the team has learned from those matches and is prepared to face the Swedish team, who will be playing in front of a large home crowd adorned in yellow jerseys, which typically signifies strong support for the local team.

The tension and strategic elements of the upcoming games are heightened by the significance of each match in the World Cup qualification series, where every game counts towards advancing to the next stage. Rannula's deliberate choice to keep some player selections a secret adds an element of intrigue, putting additional pressure on the Swedish team to prepare for a potentially unexpected lineup from Estonia.