By Utkan Şahin / info@eurohoops.net
The 2023 World Cup will begin on August 25th and will be a grand celebration for basketball fans all over the world.
The dull summer is over, the best international teams will face off in a few days and compete for the ultimate trophy. Following this basketball feast will be enjoyable yet challenging, as we will have multiple matches on the same day.
Eurohoops understanding the complexity of the mixed schedule and the difficulty of keeping up with every game has identified the top 10 crucial contests you shouldn’t miss in the first-round groups on your behalf.
Our focus was not only on the entertainment factor but also on the games that could potentially determine the fate of the groups and the tournament.
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If you’re ready, here are the ten matchups from the first-round groups that you shouldn’t miss
Dominican Republic – Philippines (Group A)
Match date and time: August 25th / 14:00 CET
In Group A, expecting Italy to lead the group is not an outrageous prediction, while Angola finishes at the bottom. Consequently, the battle for second place in the group will be between the Dominican Republic and the host country, the Philippines. Moreover, both teams will have an NBA star card in this fight.
While Karl-Anthony Towns returns to the national team after years, the Philippines will have their homegrown player, Jordan Clarkson, on the court. Watching the duel between these two on Friday will be truly enjoyable.
Frankly, Towns’ teammates have the upper hand. The players from the Dominican Republic have more experience and a higher level in the global basketball scene compared to their Filipino counterparts. Therefore, the favorite in the match is the Dominican Republic, but the Philippines is the host with passionate fans who truly love this sport. In a game where Clarkson is in form, the fiery supporters will undoubtedly give their full support for their team to win.
This is a critical match for the battle for second place… Towns or Clarkson? Which one will lead their country into the second-round group?
China – Puerto Rico (Group B)
Match date and time: August 30th / 14:00
In Group B, there’s a situation similar to Group A. Serbia is the clear favorite of the group. It would be surprising for many if they even face difficulty in any match within the group. South Sudan is an athletic team participating in the World Cup for the first time, but they lack experience at this level, making it hard to predict what they will do. As a result, the race for second place will probably be decided between Puerto Rico and China.
Under normal circumstances, Puerto Rico also seems to have the edge in this competition. Unfortunately, Jose Alvarado cannot join the tournament due to an injury, but the other players on their roster outweigh their Chinese counterparts. Moreover, despite losing to the United States significantly in preparation, they played good basketball until the last quarter.
In China, the preparation matches weren’t as impressive, but they are coming to this tournament with a significant addition of a naturalized player. Kyle Anderson, who has played in the NBA for years, was added to the roster as a naturalized player just before the World Cup. With the touch of Coach Aleksandar Djordjevic, can China pull off a surprise against Puerto Rico?
On August 30th, in the final match of the group, we will precisely see the answer to this question.
Greece – United States (Group C)
Match date and time: August 28th / 14:40
In Group C, we are anticipating a match between two major teams.
Greece and the United States may be unable to attend the tournament with their full squads, but both countries are significant contenders. No one expects these two nations to struggle against Jordan and New Zealand in the first-round groups. Therefore, the key match in this group will be the showdown between Greece and the United States.
This match will be a crucial test for both teams, especially after their prep game in Abu Dhabi and the second quarter in which Greece despite being shorthanded, was more than dangerous.
The United States hasn’t assembled a veteran team. Only two players from this year’s All-Star selections – Jaren Jackson and Anthony Edwards – are on the roster. None of the superstars have joined the team. Consequently, expectations for them are quite mixed. Many anticipate that, following their failure in 2019, the United States might again miss out on a medal in this tournament. Playing against a tough opponent like Greece, this match will be the first real test to show the United States and the world where they stand, whether they are contenders for a medal or not.
Greece, of course, comes with an unexpected roster. The country’s biggest star, Giannis Antetokounmpo, is absent. Additionally, Nick Calathes and Kostas Sloukas are also not joining the team. Despite these absences, we will get a glimpse in this match of whether they can manage to hold together at least in defense, and progress in the tournament. Regardless of the circumstances, Greece remains a savvy team. They will challenge the American team with their international basketball mentality.
Let’s see how the test for these two teams will unfold.
Finland – Australia and Germany – Finland (Group E)
Match date and time: August 25th / 11:00 (Finland – Australia)
Match date and time: August 29th / 10:30 (Germany – Finland)
Group E is one of the tournament’s toughest groups, and one of Finland, Australia, or Germany will not make it through. In past years, Finland might have struggled a bit in this competition, but with Lauri Markkanen, that situation has changed.
Like Dirk Nowitzki in the past, Markkanen carries his national team. We saw the first example of this at EuroBasket 2022. Finland had an unexpectedly strong tournament and made it to the quarterfinals. Aside from Mikael Jantunen, the other players in the squad might not be considered real threats, but they play an enjoyable, fast-paced style of basketball. If they were placed in another group, they would likely have a good chance of advancing easily, but life isn’t fair, and Finland needs to pull off a surprise against either Germany or Australia to progress.
Of course, this isn’t easy. Germany and Australia have significant NBA players in their squads, and in terms of squad quality, both teams outweigh Finland. Still, if we explore the possibility of an upset, Finland might have an eye on Australia in the group.
Yes, Australia’s squad boasts 10 NBA players, some of whom are important figures, but they are in a transitional phase as a team. Some of the key players who carried them for years have retired. Stars like Patty Mills and Joe Ingles are maybe in their last tournament. Adding Josh Giddey will bring some energy to Australia, but a stumble during this generational shift will not be a shock.
Furthermore, regarding matching up against Markkanen, they simply don’t have the right players. The Germans could put up more of a defensive challenge against the Finnish star.
Finland might not be the favorite in both matches, but they will push opponents to their limits in both games. What comes next is for destiny to decide.
Australia – Germany (Group E)
Match date and time: August 27th / 11:30
Even if Finland doesn’t pull off an upset, there’s another game in Group E that you shouldn’t miss: Australia – Germany!
The natural favorites of Group E will face each other on the 3rd day of the tournament, and the significance of this match isn’t just about being a serious test for both sides. Yes, it will be an important test for both teams aiming for a medal in the tournament, but on the other hand, the outcome will decide the path they need to take.
Due to the format, the teams that finish in the top two positions from this group will form a new group with the top two from Group F, and the teams that secure the top two positions in this 2nd round group will advance to the quarter-finals. Slovenia is in Group F, and unlike these two teams, Doncic and his colleagues will likely advance to the 2nd round quite comfortably. Therefore, the winner of this match will gain a significant advantage, both in terms of leading Group E and getting an extra win for the next round, since all teams are keeping their results.
The Germans, who won the bronze medal at EuroBasket 2022, faced some internal issues before this tournament, but they are coming into the event in good form under the leadership of Franz Wagner and Dennis Schroder. Australia’s situation is a bit more complex since they are going through a transitional phase as a team. Their plan for this tournament is to build a structure by placing their young star, Josh Giddey, at the team’s center for the future. Patty Mills and Joe Ingles will try to assist in making this transition smoother for their country.
A massive matchup with 12 NBA players on the court awaits us. The winner will undoubtedly have a significant advantage.
Brazil – Spain (Group G)
Match date and time: August 28th / 16:30
Spain, which left its mark on international basketball throughout the 2000s, comes to this tournament as both the reigning European and World champions. At first glance, their roster might not appear intimidating, but the same was said before the last EuroBasket, and no one could stop them. One thing is certain now: regardless of the state of their roster, Spain is always a contender for a medal in any tournament, and the same holds true for this World Cup.
Brazil is also going through a generational shift. The basketball legends of the country, like Leandro Barbosa, Alex Garcia, Anderson Varejao, and Marquinhos Vieira, are no longer around. Only Marcelinho Huertas remains from that generation, and the 40-year-old point guard is coming to Japan for his 5th World Cup adventure. While Huertas is there, the team now carries younger faces like Bruno Caboclo, George de Paula, and Yago Dos Santos. Watching this transition will be interesting.
Of course, Spain was the favorite of this group before the tournament, but the big surprise Brazil pulled off against Greece, one of the favorites of the 2019 tournament, still lingers in everyone’s mind. Nobody expected Brazil to make such an upset in that tournament either, but the victory of the South American country left a mark on the tournament. Moreover, in preparation, they defeated another tournament favorite, Australia.
If Brazil manages to defeat Spain with an unexpected result on a good day, it could significantly alter the course of the tournament, as the second-round group for these two teams holds strong opponents like Latvia, France, and Canada. Therefore, a misstep could hurt Spain’s future a lot.
It doesn’t seem very likely that the other teams in Group G, Iran, and Ivory Coast, will pose a major challenge for these two countries. Thus, all eyes will be on this match in this group.