Sweden U20 Dominate North Macedonia in Division B Opener

The Sweden U20 national team kicked off their Europe U20 Championship Division B campaign with a commanding 86-64 victory over North Macedonia U20 on July 14, 2026. The match, held at a neutral venue in the tournament, saw the Swedes impose their will from the opening tip, controlling the tempo and building a lead that never dipped below double digits after the first quarter.

Match Overview

Sweden came out firing, using a balanced attack to race to a 24-15 lead after the first ten minutes. Their defensive intensity forced North Macedonia into difficult shots and costly turnovers, setting the tone for the rest of the contest. By halftime, the advantage had swelled to 18 points, and despite a brief push from the North Macedonians in the third quarter, Sweden never let the game slip into uncertainty.

The final stretch saw Sweden maintain their discipline, converting efficiently in transition and locking down on the defensive end to seal the 22-point victory. The win places Sweden among the early contenders in Group A of Division B, while North Macedonia will look to regroup ahead of their next fixture.

Key Moments

• First-quarter blitz: Sweden opened with a 12-2 run, forcing North Macedonia into an early timeout. The gap never closed below nine points for the rest of the game.
• Second-quarter surge: A 9-0 run by the Swedes midway through the period pushed the lead to 20 points, effectively breaking the match open.
• North Macedonia’s third-quarter response: The home side briefly cut the deficit to 14 points with a 7-0 burst, but Sweden responded immediately with a triple and a fast-break layup to restore order.
• Fourth-quarter finish: Sweden’s bench players contributed solid minutes, maintaining the double-digit margin and preventing any late drama.

Tactical Story

Sweden’s game plan centered on ball movement and perimeter shooting. They consistently found open looks from beyond the arc, converting eight three-pointers in the first half alone. On defense, the Swedes packed the paint and forced North Macedonia into contested mid-range jumpers. North Macedonia struggled to generate easy baskets in transition, and their half-court offense often stagnated against Sweden’s disciplined zone defense.

North Macedonia’s best stretches came when they pushed the pace and attacked the rim, but they were unable to sustain that intensity for full quarters. Sweden’s size advantage on the boards also proved critical, as the Swedes grabbed 42 rebounds to North Macedonia’s 28, creating second-chance opportunities and limiting the opposition’s fast-break chances.

Standout Players

• Sweden: Point guard Elias Lundqvist orchestrated the offense with 18 points, 7 assists, and 4 steals. Forward Hugo Björk added a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds, anchoring the interior.
• North Macedonia: Guard Darko Krstevski led his team with 22 points and 5 assists, but received little support from the rest of the roster. Center Luka Petrovski contributed 8 points and 6 rebounds before fouling out late.

Tournament Impact

With this victory, Sweden U20 takes an early lead in Group A of the Europe U20 Championship Division B. The result also provides a significant boost in goal difference, which could prove crucial in tiebreakers later in the tournament. North Macedonia U20 will need to bounce back quickly, as their next match pits them against another strong opponent. The Division B competition features promotion to Division A as the ultimate prize, making every result vital.

Sweden will look to carry this momentum forward, while North Macedonia will search for defensive adjustments and a more consistent scoring output from their supporting cast.