MUNICH (Germany) - Drama remains in the final window of the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Qualifiers as 13 spots remain up for grabs for this summer's big show.
And three leading nations - world champs Germany, Croatia and Czechia - have been playing with fire in the first two windows and are in danger of missing out on the tournament.
Those three countries find themselves in tough situations going into the final games from February 20-24 across the continent. Groups D, E and F are entirely undecided with none of the teams from those groups already holding a EuroBasket 2025 ticket.
Will Germany really blow it?
The biggest name of that trio of course is the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 winners Germany, who finished third at the last EuroBasket edition in 2022 and then reached the 2024 Olympics Semi-Finals - the country's first top-four showing in that competition in history. But the 1993 European champs Germany have since handed the head coaching reins to Alex Mumbru and his team only split two games with Sweden in Group D for a 2-2 record - Germany also lost in Bulgaria in the first window.
Germany are even in the group with Sweden - holding the tiebreaker - while Montenegro are 3-1 and Bulgaria are 1-3. The Germans will be traveling to Podgorica to face Montenegro first and then welcome Bulgaria to Bamberg in the final game. Sure, it's unlikely Germany will fail to reach their 15th straight EuroBasket. But there is a chance it happens.
Croatia face must-win over France
The big team with the toughest road to overcome is Croatia as the Balkan nation is 2-2 in Group E - even on record with Bosnia and Herzegovina but behind them on point difference. France top the group at 4-0 and Cyprus are winless at 0-4 but are already through as EuroBasket 2025 co-hosts. France have not officially locked up a spot for the summer, but are all but through.
Croatia have never missed a EuroBasket since breaking away from Yugoslavia, a streak of 14 tournaments including bronzes in 1993 and 1995. But making it 15 for 15 will be difficult as Croatia need two wins in the window and help from others. First off is a home game against France, who have nominated a strong team looking to finish the deal in style. And Croatia then travel to Cyprus. Things do not look great for the Croatians.
Czechia face difficult finish
Group F is also entirely undecided, and Czechia have to be going into the final window a bit apprehensively as they host Greece and then finish in Great Britain. The Czechs are 2-2 as are the Brits while Greece top the group at 3-1 and Netherlands are 1-3. Czechs went only 1-1 against Netherlands but do hold the tiebreaker against them. They lost to Greece on the road by eight points to start their campaign and then beat Great Britain in the second game of the opening window.
That victory was only by eight points, which is a number the Brits could make up in the last game. Owning the tiebreaker with Netherlands will likely go a long way to sending Czechia to their fifth straight EuroBasket, but it's anything but a certainty at this point.
Georgia face massive game with Denmark
Georgia have reached the last five EuroBasket tournaments and the eastern Europeans have solid chances to make it six in a row. They are 2-2 in Group G, behind 4-0 Serbia and the 1-3 duo of Finland and Denmark. Serbia have already advanced and the Finns are already through as co-hosts, meaning either Georgia or Denmark advance.
The two will open the final window with a massive showdown in Tbilisi with Georgia knowing they lost in Denmark by six points. Georgia also know they will close the qualifying in Serbia while Denmark host Finland in the finale. The Danes are licking their chops knowing they have an opportunity to end a 70-year drought, not having made the EuroBasket since 1955.
Not yet in... but almost there
France (4-0), Greece (3-1) and Montenegro (3-1) are all still waiting to book their tickets to the EuroBasket - but they all lead their respective groups and are in a great spot not even needing to win to advance.
Facing an uphill battle
No team has been eliminated yet but three teams are winless and find themselves in really tough situations. Slovakia, for example, not only cannot lose to Belgium in Group C but actually must win by at least 15 points to stay alive. This after thinking they had beaten Spain in the first game of the November 2024 window. Hungary must beat Iceland by at least 5 points to keep their hopes alive in Group B.
North Macedonia face the same situation as Hungary in Group H, needing a win by 5 points or more over Estonia. And Ukraine would be out if they lose to Slovenia or if Portugal beat Israel in Group A.
FIBA