By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
With the top three teams of each group getting the 12 European tickets for the FIBA World Cup qualifiers, things are more than interesting this weekend.
There are still two FIBA windows left for the second phase of the qualifiers for the FIBA World Cup 2023. However, those windows will be played in November and February, meaning that no NBA players will be involved and with few exceptions no EuroLeague players either.
That’s why this weekend is more than crucial for the teams which will be without their marquee stars and don’t have the depth to compensate with a solid roster during the season.
Group I
| GAMES | STREAK | GAME POINTS | POINTS | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Team | P | W | L | % | Last 5 | For | Agt | +/- | FA | AA | |
| 1 |  Latvia* |
5 | 4 | 1 | 80.0 |
|
411 | 373 | 38 | 82.2 | 74.6 | 9 |
| 2 |  Greece |
5 | 3 | 2 | 60.0 |
|
404 | 387 | 17 | 80.8 | 77.4 | 8 |
| 3 |  Belgium* |
5 | 3 | 2 | 60.0 |
|
347 | 333 | 14 | 69.4 | 66.6 | 8 |
| 4 |  Serbia* |
5 | 2 | 3 | 40.0 |
|
402 | 407 | -5 | 80.4 | 81.4 | 7 |
| 5 |  Turkey |
5 | 2 | 3 | 40.0 |
|
392 | 397 | -5 | 78.4 | 79.4 | 7 |
| 6 |  Great Britain |
5 | 1 | 4 | 20.0 |
|
344 | 403 | -59 | 68.8 | 80.6 | 6 |
Sunday, August 28
Great Britain v Latvia – 19:00 CET
Greece v Belgium – 19:00 CET
Turkey v Serbia – 19:00 CET
With Kristaps Porzingins being hot, Latvia has a golden chance stay alone on top of the standings and create some distance in what’s expected to be a close four-horses race for three tickets.
Greece must do the same against Belgium at home and the biggest game of the weekend will be played in Istanbul where Turkey will host Serbia and both teams are currently tied at 2-3 in the fourth position.
Group J
| GAMES | STREAK | GAME POINTS | POINTS | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Team | P | W | L | % | Last 5 | For | Agt | +/- | FA | AA | |
| 1 |  Germany |
7 | 6 | 1 | 85.7 |
|
541 | 475 | 66 | 77.3 | 67.9 | 13 |
| 2 |  Finland |
7 | 6 | 1 | 85.7 |
|
553 | 519 | 34 | 79 | 74.1 | 13 |
| 3 |  Slovenia |
7 | 5 | 2 | 71.4 |
|
610 | 565 | 45 | 87.1 | 80.7 | 12 |
| 4 |  Israel |
7 | 3 | 4 | 42.9 |
|
549 | 531 | 18 | 78.4 | 75.9 | 10 |
| 5 |  Sweden |
7 | 2 | 5 | 28.6 |
|
529 | 561 | -32 | 75.6 | 80.1 | 9 |
| 6 |  Estonia |
7 | 2 | 5 | 28.6 |
|
498 | 574 | -76 | 71.1 | 82 | 9 |
Sunday, August 28
Germany v Slovenia – 15:00 CET
Estonia v Finland – 17:00 CET
Israel v Sweden – 20:00 CET
It’s the Luka Doncic show and Germany will be in trouble at home. Having said that, the most imporant game for the total group standings is the home contest of Israel with Sweden. This is must win game for Deni Avdija and company if they want to still have hopes for the third place.
Group K
| GAMES | STREAK | GAME POINTS | POINTS | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Team | P | W | L | % | Last 5 | For | Agt | +/- | FA | AA | |
| 1 |  France |
7 | 6 | 1 | 85.7 |
|
559 | 403 | 156 | 79.9 | 57.6 | 13 |
| 2 |  Lithuania |
7 | 6 | 1 | 85.7 |
|
550 | 499 | 51 | 78.6 | 71.3 | 13 |
| 3 |  Montenegro |
7 | 5 | 2 | 71.4 |
|
552 | 497 | 55 | 78.9 | 71 | 12 |
| 4 |  Czech Republic |
7 | 3 | 4 | 42.9 |
|
545 | 578 | -33 | 77.9 | 82.6 | 10 |
| 5 |  BIH |
7 | 3 | 4 | 42.9 |
|
541 | 574 | -33 | 77.3 | 82 | 10 |
| 6 |  Hungary |
7 | 3 | 4 | 42.9 |
|
477 | 557 | -80 | 68.1 | 79.6 | 10 |
Saturday, August 27
Czech Republic v Hungary – 18:15 CET
Lithuania v Montenegro – 18:30 CET
Bosnia and Herzegovina v France – 20:00 CET
In this group, the top three teams have already created some distance, but if Lithuania beats Montenegro, as expected, then everything will be open for the third spot and with four more games left, no prediction can be made.
Group L
| GAMES | STREAK | GAME POINTS | POINTS | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Team | P | W | L | % | Last 5 | For | Agt | +/- | FA | AA | |
| 1 |  Spain* |
5 | 4 | 1 | 80.0 |
|
417 | 350 | 67 | 83.4 | 70 | 9 |
| 2 |  Italy |
5 | 4 | 1 | 80.0 |
|
464 | 437 | 27 | 92.8 | 87.4 | 9 |
| 3 |  Georgia* |
5 | 3 | 2 | 60.0 |
|
374 | 393 | -19 | 74.8 | 78.6 | 8 |
| 4 |  Iceland |
5 | 3 | 2 | 60.0 |
|
397 | 430 | -33 | 79.4 | 86 | 8 |
| 5 |  Ukraine* |
5 | 1 | 4 | 20.0 |
|
401 | 416 | -15 | 80.2 | 83.2 | 6 |
| 6 |  Netherlands |
5 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
|
363 | 390 | -27 | 72.6 | 78 | 5 |
Saturday, August 27
Netherlands v Spain – 19:00 CET
Italy v Georgia – 20:30 CET
Iceland v Ukraine – 22:00 CET
The situation is quite clear in this group also with Iceland and Georgia trying to get the third ticket. That’s why despite losing Toko Shengelia to injury, Georgia has to try and get the road win in Italy in order to capitalize on the presence of Sandro Mamukelashvili and Goga Bitadze on their roster, even against Gallinari and company.