Preview: Groups A and B

MUNICH (FIBA EuroBasket Women 2017 Qualifiers) – The scramble for tickets to EuroBasket Women 2017 is about to reach its climax during the last qualifying window and we take a look at who is ready to shine in Groups A and B.

Group A

Slovenia are in the box-seat as they look to write a chapter of history by booking their first ever appearance at a Final Round. They hold all the cards and have their destiny firmly in their own hands at 2-0.

They are preparing to finish the job with a home game against Lithuania on Saturday who are out of contention and then in Latvia next Wednesday who they beat 69-51 in Celje. They will be relying on their dazzling backcourt and wing trio of Nika Baric, Teja Oblak and veteran Maja Erkic.

For Latvia, it’s all about hoping their neighbours Lithuania can do them a favour and win on Slovenian soil. That would make their last game an all-out battle for top spot and a guaranteed ticket to Czech Republic. All of the attention this week has surrounded Anete Jekabsone, who might be without a club team but is determined to propel her country to yet another Final Round.

She has been continuing to produce the goods for her country. Latvia will also feel they have a treasure chest of riches in the paint and that is where they can exploit Slovenian weaknesses via the likes of Aija Putnina and Anete Steinberga.

As for Lithuania, they will focus on picking up the pieces of their disastrous campaign under the guidance of the recently installed Mantas Sernius, who previously coached the team at EuroBasket Women 2015. They have been bitten by an eye-watering 25 turnovers per game across their last three qualifiers.

Group B

As expected, heavyweights and favourites France are ploughing their way towards the Final Round and they will confirm their place if they stretch their unbeaten record to 5-0 with a victory against Netherlands at home on Saturday.

Head coach Valerie Garnier won’t have Isabelle Yacoubou who has retired from the international game, but can rely on Endene Miyem who has been excellent in her first year at Beretta Famila Schio, while the campaign has also been noteworthy due to the emergence of the next generation for Les Bleues in Marine Johannes who also gave an exciting glimpse into the future in Rio.

Netherlands have parted ways with Remy De Wit and interim head coach Hakim Salem will be able to call upon the skills of former youth stars Laura Cornelius and Emese Hof who will fly to link up with the team ahead of the French clash. Netherlands may have to cause an upset to take second place as while they beat Croatia early in the campaign, they lost the head-to-head via a 71-57 defeat in Osijek. The Dutch will sign off their campaign against Estonia who are yet to record a victory.

Croatia will feel they still have an opportunity to progress and cement second place, although a success against Estonia on Saturday is unlikely to be taken into account in the shake-up for the best runners-up records – assuming the Baltic minnows finish bottom. That means it could boil down to them having to win in Clermont-Ferrand against France next Wednesday. Marija Rezan of CCC Polkowice has been in strong form of late, while the naturalised Shavonte Zellous may need to have a huge shooting game to take down Les Bleues.

FIBA