Finland national team captain Sasu Salin spoke with Basketball Sphere about the upcoming FIBA World Cup 2023.
Apart from Mundobasket and the biggest favourites, Sasu Salin spoke with Basketball Sphere about the progress of basketball in Finland, how Lauri Markkanen’s military service went, and stated that the Scandinavians could be the biggest surprise at the tournament.
The beginning of the new millennium brought great changes in world basketball. The game has become global, and year after year the number of competitive national teams in major competitions has grown more and more. All of the above is closely related to the development of technology.
Knowledge began to spread quickly, so, in addition to the areas where it is rooted (former Yugoslavia, Greece, Soviet Union, Italy…), basketball increasingly touched other countries as well.
At the same time, the number of Europeans in the NBA increased. The basketball world was becoming more open and ready to accept the new reality that “everyone plays basketball today”. A notorious thesis that is often used as an alibi when the “basketball country” is defeated by the “non-basketball country”.
On Markkanen’s wings
One of those countries that embraced all the potential of the new basketball reality is Finland. Lauri Markkanen and his teammates were close to defeat Spain in the Eurobasket quarterfinals last year.
Spain was trailing by 15 points, but after a great drama in the finish, they came out as winners. Finland also showed its quality by becoming the first team from Europe to qualify for the FIBA World Cup 2023. They did that for the second time in history.
Four years ago, they did not participate in China, and that motivated them in the previous qualifiers. They had seven straight wins including two triumphs over Slovenia.
It all started in Lithuania
“It all started when we played at the Eurobasket in Lithuania in 2011. Since that moment, we have participated in four European championships and one world championship. We have the fantastic Markkanen, who is in the NBA and many other players who play outside of Finland.
Basketball is progressing in our country, where it has never been a big sport. Of course, people understood basketball, but it was not that interesting to them. Ice hockey was always sport number one. What I see now is that the basketball culture is present in Finland. After ice hockey, and of course, football, which is popular everywhere.” – Sasu Salin points out at the beginning of the conversation.
“We can compete against everyone”
Last year’s Eurobasket and the resistance that Finland offered to Spain had a great impact on team confidence. That is the reason whey they are ambitiously coming to the World Cup 2023.
“We feel that we can compete against everyone. Our confidence is high. We know what kind of team we are. If you play in such a way against the champions of Europe, it means that you can play against anyone. We enter every game with the belief that we can win.”
The upcoming tournament will be different compared to all the previous ones. Petteri Koponen, one of Finnish national team leaders for years, decided to retire.
“Koponen was the greatest talent of his time. He had the quality to play in the NBA, although he never went there. He was drafted in the first round and gave hope to the younger ones that they can succeed. A great leader in the national team who always set an example. I played many times both with him and against him and I enjoyed it. However, he got older, as we all did.”
Finland is in one of the most demanding groups at the World Cup. Sasu Salin stated what approach his team will have against Germany, Australia and Japan.
“Of course we want to go to the next stage. Our group is one of the hardest. We will go game by game. There are no easy duels, this is the FIBA World Cup. Now is the time to prepare. We play the first game against Australia and we have to be ready.”
“Everyone, be careful!”
“Australia plays superbly every time. I don’t believe that will change. This may be the biggest challenge in the group for us. Germany was third in the previous Eurobasket. They have a talented team, so it won’t be easy at all.
We will play against Japan in front of their fans. Although they lack NBA players, it will be difficult. Maybe we are underdogs against Australia and Germany, maybe against Japan, but we still have a good chance.”
Soldier Markkanen
“That ‘size’, the way he moves… Even before going to the NBA, you could see that Markkanen had potential. Now that he’s progressed so much, it’s a lot of fun to watch him. He is dominant.
He is even in better shape than before his military service. Everyone should be a little afraid of that (laughs). He is in good shape and I don’t think that period had a bad influence. So, be careful, everyone!”
When it comes to favorites for the world title, Sasu Salin could not single out one team, but he pointed out who could be the surprise of the tournament.
“The United States is always favorite. Although some will say that they may not have the best team, they are always great. I really like Canada. They’ll have a chance. Serbia too, Spain must not be written off, even though they are in rebuilding.
Australia is good also, but I feel that we can be the surprise of the tournament. A lot of things need to come together, but I still believe in it.” – said the 32-year-old Tenerife player, the only Finn who was part of the national team at the FIBA World Cup 2014.
About commitment to the national team
From more experienced players like Salin, to NBA superstars like Markkanen, but also great talents like 19-year-old Miro Little.
Salin pointed out that there is one thing in particular that unites such a team, and he would also refer to some other segments in which he sees Finland’s greatest strength.
,,Togetherness! Being together for so long. There is great dedication to the national team program. We also have new faces coming from the youth categories. Everyone has a clear plan, they know exactly what they need to do. And, of course, we have Lauri Markkanen.” – Finnish captain Sasu Salin concluded the interview for Basketball Sphere.