By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
With Russia already qualified for the Eurobasket 2017, six more teams can seal their tickets today. Belgium, Poland, Hungary, Netherlands, Slovenia and Montenegro can secure the top of their groups.
Belgium, Poland and Hungary need just a win in order to do so. The Netherlands in Group B have to defeat Denmark and also – that’s the hard part – Austria has to beat Germany. In Group E, Slovenia will secure top spot if they beat Bulgaria and Ukraine lose to Kosovo. In Group F, Montenegro will clinch first place if they win against Albania and Georgia lose to Slovak Republic.
Still with a win both Slovenia and Montenegro can also secure mathematically a qualification spot among the best second-placed teams of if two of the three following scenarios happens: A win of Netherlands over Denmark and Austria beating Germany in Group B; Estonia beating Portugal in Group D; Hungary beating Luxembourg in Group G.
Not only the top teams of each group, but also the four best second-placed teams qualify will qualify. In order to determine the best second-placed teams, the results of the games against the fourth-placed team in each of the groups of four teams – Group C is the logical exception – will be removed from the ranking process.
The absents
Meanwhile manyy star players will be missing. First and foremost Mirza Teletovic, whom Bosnia and Herzegovina head coach Damir Mulaomerovic left out of the squad that travelled to Sweden for disciplinary reasons. Alexander Vezenkov left Bulgaria and he is training with his club, Barcelona. It’s the same for Zoran Dragic who is already in Milan and Tibor Pleiss who left Germany.
Eurobasket 2017 qualifiers – Game 5
Group A: Belgium vs. Switzerland at 20:00 CEST; Iceland vs. Cyprus at 22:15 CEST
Standings: Belgium 4-0, Iceland 2-2, Switzerland 1-3, Cyprus 1-3
Group B: Netherlands vs. Denmark at 20:00 CEST; Germany vs. Austria at 19:30 CEST
Standings: Netherlands 3-1, Germany 2-2, Austria 2-2, Denmark 1-3
Group C: Sweden vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina at 20:00 CEST
Standings: Russia 3-0, Bosnia 1-2, Sweden 0-3
Group D: Estonia vs. Portugal at 18:10 CEST; Poland vs. Belarus at 20:00 CEST
Standings: Poland 4-0, Estonia 2-2, Belarus 2-2, Portugal 0-4
Group E: Ukraine vs. Kosovo at 18:00 CEST; Slovenia vs. Bulgaria at 20:00 CEST
Standings: Slovenia 4-0, Ukraine 3-1, Bulgaria 1-3, Kosovo 0-4
Group F: Georgia vs. Slovak Republic at 17:00 CEST; Montenegro vs Albania at 21:00 CEST
Standings: Montenegro 4-0, Georgia 3-1, Slovak Republic 1-3, Albania 0-4
Group G: Luxembourg vs. Hungary at 19:30 CEST; FYROM vs. Great Britain at 19:00 CEST
Standings: Hungary 4-0, Great Britain 2-2, FYROM 2-2, Luxemburg 0-4