By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
Tony Parker is absent from the FIBA World Cup, but in twelve months he will probably have the chance to defend the Eurobasket champion title on home ground. On Monday FIBA Europe will announce its final decision, however according to multiple sources close to the situation France is expected to be chosen to host one of the first phase’s group of the upcoming Eurobasket 2015 and also the final phase.
The French federation is making an admirable push to gain this right all this summer, after FIBA Europe decided to relocate Eurobasket 2015 from Ukraine. However, as Eurohoops reported on June, three more countries are expected to host one first phase group. The countries which are interested in doing so are Croatia, Finland, Germany, Israel, Latvia, Poland and Turkey.
After the very strong presence of 8.000 fans from Finland in Spain 2014, it wouldn’t be a surprise for Finland to get one of those groups and that means home court advantage for the “pack of wolves” in the first phase.