Power Rankings: How do the European teams stack up heading into the February window?

MUNICH (Germany) - Three tickets to the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 are up for grabs as we approach the final window of the European Qualifiers with eight countries still fighting for those final spots.

Eight nations locked up spots at this summer's World Cup in the last window to join the already qualified Finland. One spot is still available in three groups with three teams still alive in two of the groups.  

Here is the latest edition of the Power Rankings. (Previous rank in brackets)

#1 - SPAIN  (-)

Current Record: 7-1 (1st in Group L)
FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike: 1st

Spain avoided a slip-up in the last window and grabbed a thrilling overtime win in Italy to remain atop Group L and eventually booked their ticket to the FIBA Basketball 2023 World Cup. Sergio Scariolo will have a chance in this window to test some players who he might want to bring to Asia this summer. Spain will travel to an Iceland team still fighting for a World Cup berth and then host Italy in a big showdown.

#2 - FRANCE (+3)

Current Record: 8-2 (1st in Group K)

FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike: 5th

France locked up their spot at the World Cup last window and head coach Vincent Collet can continue to test players and how they might fit into the final squad. Les Bleus will play at Czech Republic and then host Lithuania in a final game that could decide first place in the group. Oh, and we should probably get to see two more games with Victor Wembanyama.

#3 - LATVIA  (+3)

Current Record: 7-1 (1st in Group I)
FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike: 29th

The hottest team in the European Qualifiers jumped another three spots to third in the Power Rankings. Latvia have won nine straight games in their qualification campaign and have already secured their first-ever ticket to the World Cup. Now it will be about staying hot as the Baltic side travels to Turkey and then hosts Greece.

#4 - LITHUANIA  (-2)

Current Record: 8-2 (2nd in Group K)
FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike: 8th

Lithuania enter the window after going 1-1 in the November 2022 window during which they seemed dazed by the Victor Wembanyama show in a heavy loss. But they bounced back to beat Montenegro to stay on pace with France. The final two games will be at home versus Hungary and then in France in a potential group decider.

#5 - GERMANY  (-2)

Current Record: 8-2 (1st in Group J)

FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike: 11th

Germany knocked off Finland in the last window to secure their World Cup spot and then fell to Slovenia. This time around, German playcaller Gordie Herbert will be getting a final look at some players to see how they respond. Germany will host Sweden and then face Finland on the road - possibly with first place in Group J at stake.

#6 - SLOVENIA  (+3)

Current Record: 7-3 (3rd in Group J)

FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike: 7th

Slovenia bounced back from the disappointment of losing in the FIBA EuroBasket 2022 Quarter-Finals to secure their ticket to Indonesia, Japan and Philippines with one window to spare. That leaves them fairly relaxed going into their final two games at Estonia and at home versus Israel.

 

#7 - FINLAND  (-3)

Current Record: 8-2 (2nd in Group J)
FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike: 24th

Finland dropped three spots in the Power Rankings after losing in the last window to Germany - though they did also blow out Estonia. Finland go into the final window still with a chance to take the top spot in Group J as they travel to Israel and then welcome Germany in what promises to be another exciting clash. 

#8 - ITALY  (-1)

Current Record: 6-2 (2nd in Group L)
FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike: 10th

In the last window Italy fell in overtime to Spain and then survived a battle in Georgia to qualify for the World Cup. The Italians still have a chance to take first place in Group L as they host Ukraine before traveling to face top side Spain with a chance to extract revenge on the aforementioned defeat. 

#9 - GREECE  (-1)

Current Record: 5-3 (3rd in Group I)

FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike: 9th

Greece already have completed their mission of qualifying for this year's big event which is a good thing as Hellas has a tough window coming up: hosting Serbia and then traveling to Latvia after a big home defeat against the same opponent in the previous window. A chance to bounce back and regather momentum.

#10 - SERBIA  (-)

Current Record: 5-3 (2nd in Group I)

FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike: 6th

The first of the teams in the Power Rankings not qualified, Serbia are in a good spot after grabbing two wins in the last window. Svetislav Pesic will have most of his stars available for the window, in which Serbia must only win one of their two games - at Greece and versus Great Britain - or to have Belgium lose one of their contests to set their sights on Indonesia, Japan and Philippines.

#11 - MONTENEGRO  (-)

Current Record: 6-4 (3rd in Group K)

FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike: 18th

Montenegro are still on the outside looking in, but the Balkan side can lock up a World Cup spot with a win on February 23 at Bosnia and Herzegovina. Montenegro's second game will be at home versus Czech Republic and they will be hoping to avoid any final day nerves by getting the job done at the earliest opportunity.

#12 - GEORGIA (NE)

Current Record: 4-4 (3rd in Group L)

FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike: 32nd

Neither Georgia nor Iceland can qualify for their first-ever World Cup on Gameday 11 - with Georgia playing at Netherlands. The big game will come on February 26 in Tbilisi as Georgia will host Iceland. Georgia won the first matchup 88-85 in Iceland and they remain best-placed to make it through the group alongside Spain and Italy.

#13 - ICELAND 

Current Record: 4-3 (4th in Group L)

FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike: 49th

Iceland's dream of making the World Cup for the first time is still alive and they actually hold their fate in their own hands ahead of games at home versus Spain and then at Georgia. Iceland will likely have to make up a three-point difference from their previous loss at home to Georgia having seen their high hopes dented in the previous window.

#14 -BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

Current Record: 5-5 (4th in Group K)

FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike: 35th

Bosnia and Herzegovina can still dream of the World Cup, but it is one that is close to being ended. They open the window with a do-or-die home game with Montenegro - knowing it would also be best to win by 20 points to make up for an 88-69 loss in Montenegro. Bosnia and Herzegovina finish the window at Hungary in what could be a huge encounter.

#15 - HUNGARY

Current Record: 5-5 (5th in Group K)

FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike: 39th

Hungary go into the window with outside chances of still reaching the World Cup and it's clear that they must win both games - first up on the road against Lithuania and then versus Bosnia and Herzegovina - and they also need help from elsewhere, too.

#16 - UKRAINE

Current Record: 3-5 (5th in Group L)

FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike: 28th

Speaking of outside help, Ukraine face a major uphill battle to get back to the World Cup as they first must win in Italy and then at home against Netherlands to even still be in the running. But Ukraine would also be eliminated on Gameday 11 if Iceland win, so their hopes are hanging by a thread heading into these games.

#17 - BELGIUM

Current Record: 3-5 (5th in Group I)

FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike: 30th

The equation is simple for Belgium in regards to their chances to reach the World Cup. Firstly, they must beat Great Britain on the road before seeing off Turkey at home, but they must also hope Serbia lose both of their games against Greece and Great Britain in order to leapfrog them in the standings.

Already over:
Czech Republic, Estonia, Great Britain, Israel, Netherlands, Sweden and Turkey.

These countries can all use the games to test new young players as they are already eliminated from World Cup contention.

*The power rankings are entirely subjective and is in no way a true, accurate ranking systems. All comments are purely those of the author.