By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Before the bottom half of the 2023 FIBA World Cup Quarterfinals, the picture of the 2024 Olympic Games gets clearer.
European national teams in the knockout stage vying for two direct tickets to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris have been reduced to four on Tuesday. The clinching spots can be decided as early as Wednesday.
Six European participants progressed from group play to the last eight, but Lithuania and Italy were both forced into classification games to rank from fifth to eighth. With at least two European sides in the Semifinals, they fell short in the sprint but will have one more chance next summer.
Serbia qualified, Germany or Latvia will be in the Semifinals as well, and Slovenia will be matching up with Canada. The two highest-ranking national teams will end up with a guaranteed spot in the next Olympic Games. On the downside, Lithuania, Italy, and the two other countries missing the cut will settle for a final opportunity through the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments.
Olympic Games field
Besides France getting an automatic berth as host, the remaining direct entries were decided earlier in the World Cup. Canada and the USA claimed the Americas quota spots, while South Sudan, Japan, and Australia were the top-ranked national teams of Africa, Asia, and Oceania, rewarding them with a chance to compete in next summer’s Olympics.
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The remaining four countries heading to Paris will be determined via the Qualifying Tournaments, scheduled to be held in early July. The tournaments are expected to be held in various hosting cities, to be announced.
Based on the World Cup rankings and winners of the recent pre-Qualifying Tournaments, Angola, Bahamas, Bahrain, Brazil, Cameroon, Cote D’Ivoire, Croatia, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Finland, Georgia, Greece, Montenegro, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Lebanon, New Zealand, Mexico, Poland, and Spain are set for an invitation to play for a last-minute pass for the Olympics.
Photo Credit: FIBA.BASKETBALL