Βy Kostas Giataganas/ info@eurohoops.net
Only in Group A and Group B, there are two open tickets, one in each group. In all other cases, the last games will affect only the final standings. Here are the standings with one game left.
In Group A the winner of the game between Greece and Poland will finish fourth and the loser will be fifth and out of the competition.
If Slovenia beats France, then the winner gets the top spot and France will end up third. If France beats Slovenia and also Finland beats Iceland, then there will be a three-way tie and everything will be decided by the point difference of the game between France and Slovenia. Finland has beaten France (+2) and lost to Slovenia (-3). That means Finland currently has a negative -1 point difference in the possible three-way tie.
- If France gets the win by one point, then Slovenia (+2) remains first and the second place will be decided by the total points scored by France (-1) and Finland (-1) in the games between the three teams.
- If France wins by two points, then they will finish second (0) and Slovenia (+1) remains on the top.
- If France gets a win by three points, then France (+1) will get the top spot and Slovenia (0) will be second.
- If France prevails by four points, then France (+2) will be first and the second place will be decided the total points scored by Slovenia (-1) and Finland (-1) after the end of the group phase.
- If France prevails by five or more points, then France (+3) will be first, Slovenia (-2) will be third and Finland (-1) will be second.
In Group B, Georgia will secure the qualification with a win over Italy which will send the Italians in the fourth spot and the Georgians in the third place. A win of Israel over Ukraine will send Georgia to the next phase, even if they lose to Italy, as the fourth-best team in the group. Ukraine will qualify with a win over Israel and a defeat of Georgia.
The top spot will belong to the winner of the game between Lithuania and Germany. Italy can’t finish higher than third, having lost both to Germany and Lithuania.
Georgia, however, can end up being second if they beat Italy and Germany beats Lithuania. In that case Lithuania will end up being third, Germany will be first and Italy fourth.
In Group C Spain has secured the top spot, Croatia is second and the question is who will finish third between Montenegro and Hungary. If Montenegro beats Romania, then they will secure their spot. The only scenario that gives to Hungary the third place is for them to beat Spain and Montenegro to lose to Romania.
In Group D, things at this point are more than fluid about the final standings and even a four-way tie is possible. The Serbs have the advantage in most scenarios provided they beat Belgium. In the current three-way tie between Latvia, Serbia and Russia, Serbia has the top spot and Russia is third. Serbia also holds the head to head advantage over Latvia in the case of a two-way tie. However, Latvia has to face the hosts of the tournament, Turkey, and Russia has the head to head advantage over Serbia in a possible two-way tie.
In a four-way tie, if Russia and Serbia lose to Great Britain and Belgium respectively and Turkey beats Latvia, Russia will be first, Serbia will be second, Turkey will be third and Latvia will be fourth. Turkey can also be third if they beat Latvia and also Serbia and Russia get wins. Turkey can end up second if Russia loses to Great Britain and Turkey beats Latvia by 10 points or more.
Turkey can also be third if they beat Latvia and also Serbia and Russia get wins. Turkey can end up second if Russia loses to Great Britain and Turkey beats Latvia by 10 points or more.
Russia can also end up being first by getting a win and Turkey beating Latvia.
The couplings
In the round of 16, Group A teams will face those of Group B and Group D teams will face those of Group C in the following format.
(61) Β2-Α3
(63) Α1-Β4
(65) Β1-Α4
(67) Α2-Β3
(62) C1-D4
(64) D2-C3
(66) C2-D3
(68) D1-C4
And the format continues as follows.
Quarterfinals
(69) winner 61-winner 62
(70) winner 63-winner 64
(71) winner 65-winner 66
(72) winner 67-winner 68
Semifinals
(73) winner 69-winner 70
(74) winner 71-winner 72
3rd place game
Loser 73-Loser 74
Final
Winner 73-Winner 74
(Photo credit: FIBA.basketball)