FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Qualifiers Smart Power Rankings: Volume 1

MUNICH (Germany) - With the start of the FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Qualifiers just around the corner, it's time to examine the chances of all 32 qualification hopefuls in Volume 1 of the Smart Power Rankings.

The teams were ranked taking into consideration the competition system, opponent strength, and of course the squad announcements of the National Federations for the opening window.

There will be plenty of exciting twists and turns on the road to FIBA EuroBasket 2025, but here is how the starting grid looks in February 2024.

#1 France 

FIBA EuroBasket 2022: 2nd
FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike: 9th

Allez les Bleus!

Forget the World Cup blip, France mean business: Collet's squad, armed to the teeth, aims to put things right in the Qualifiers. Talent? They've got plenty. With a roster that could make your head spin, they come in as the top dogs in the Power Rankings, but there's one but... They're in a group with Bosnia and Herzegovina (*Dzanan Musa waves hello*), Croatia (*Mario Hezonja says hi*) and Cyprus, who are very happy to have qualified automatically as FIBA EuroBasket 2025 co-hosts. Yes, that means that only two other teams will advance from this group. Somebody should put up a 'slippery when wet' sign in Group E – you never know who could slip up.

#2 Serbia 

FIBA EuroBasket 2022: 9th
FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike: 5th

Svetislav Pesic likes to keep his cards close to his chest. At the time of publication, Serbia are yet to announce the shorter list of players for the February window. However, the 24-man extended squad suggests it'll be worth the wait. The FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 runners-up are expected to have a good number of names from their podium run in Manila. If that squad was good enough for second best in the world, it should be good enough to finish ahead of at least one of Denmark and Georgia, right? Because that's what qualifying for EuroBasket will take in this group, with Finland through directly as co-hosts. Needless to say, Serbia will have much loftier goals in mind, but they have dropped some important Qualifiers games in previous campaigns.

#3 Spain 

FIBA EuroBasket 2022: 1st
FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike: 2nd

In case you forgot, Spain are still the reigning EuroBasket champions. The famous saying that basketball is a game where 10 players chase the ball for 40 minutes and Spain always win will be tested once again here. For some reason, there was a glitch in the system and this didn't work at the World Cup. Oh, and Ricky Rubio will be back playing basketball and we're loving it!

#4 Greece 

FIBA EuroBasket 2022: 5th
FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike: 14th

The time has come: we will get to see Vassilis Spanoulis on the sidelines as the head coach of Greece. Out of all eight groups in the Qualifiers, Group F is the only to feature four teams – Czechia, Great Britain, Greece and Netherlands – who all played at FIBA EuroBasket 2022. Not a walk in the park by any stretch of imagination, but you will fancy the guys wearing Hellas on their vests to advance. Their squad is possibly even stronger than the one that stepped up at the World Cup last year – guess no one wants to spoil V-Span's debut.

#5 Lithuania 

FIBA EuroBasket 2022: 15th
FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike: 10th

Just a reminder: Lithuania were one basket from not reaching the last EuroBasket, but we're sure there'll be a sticky note in the locker room saying, "Let's not do that again, please." They are the team to beat in Group H, which also features EuroBasket co-hosts Poland, as well as Estonia and North Macedonia. Edgaras Ulanovas, Rokas Giedraitis are among the returning names for Lithuania, which will undoubtedly please coach Kazys Maksvytis, who has a tidy squad available for February.

#6 Italy 

FIBA EuroBasket 2022: 8th
FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike: 13th

We don't know about you, but we have 'more hugs from Gianmarco Pozzecco' quite high up on our EuroBasket wish list. Not sure if putting Italy #6 in the Power Rankings is enough to earn a hug, but their fully Italy-based squad might get a few if they can open the campaign on a positive note against fellow front-runners Turkiye. The result of this game might dictate the proceedings in Group B. With Hungary and Iceland also in the group, no fixture will be an easy one.

#7 Germany 

FIBA EuroBasket 2022: 3rd
FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike: 3rd

World champions of what?! Oh right, of the actual world. Congrats once again, Germany! But no, you don't get any extra credits for being awesome in Manila. There will be quite a few new faces on the Deutschland squad, with Justus Hollatz and David Kramer the only world champs on the preliminary squad for the February window. However, what Germany do have working their favour is the relatively manageable strength of group. So much so that some of our experts are predicting them to go undefeated against Bulgaria, Montenegro and Sweden. They're still the hot favorites in Group D!

#8 Latvia 

FIBA EuroBasket 2022: Did not qualify
FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike: 8th

Why don't we have a recollection of Latvia playing at the last EuroBasket? Oh wait, because they didn't…

Good news: Latvia are EuroBasket co-hosts. More good news: Latvia are already qualified for the Final Round. Bad news: none, whatsoever.

A lot has changed since the 2022 absence, with Luca Banchi's secret Italian sauce turning the sharp-shooting Baltic side into a global powerhouse and transforming Andrejs Grazulis into the best power forward in the world. Well, at least for three weeks last year, when Latvia finished fifth at the World Cup after a truly magical run in Jakarta and Manila. People in Belgium, Slovakia and Spain will be hoping that the magic has worn off; the rest of us will want the show to go on.

#9 Czechia 

FIBA EuroBasket 2022: 16th
FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike: 19th

Tomas Satoransky? Check! Jan Vesely? Check.

That's  two one important check for the Qualifiers. Czechia are right in the mix with the big boys in the Top 10 of the Power Rankings. You might be thinking whether they peaked at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 or by reaching the Tokyo Olympics, but all the evidence seems to suggest that the  two one important Czech (see what we did there?) still have enough in the tank to lead another big push. That being said, a group with Greece, Great Britain and Netherlands is a tricky one.

#10 Slovenia 

FIBA EuroBasket 2022: 6th
FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike: 11th

This is the Power Rankings for the Qualifiers. This means no Luka Doncic. If you told us Slovenia will finish first in Group A, we won't be surprised in the slightest. If you told us Slovenia won't finish first in Group A, we might be a little bit surprised, but not at all shocked. They're the team to beat, but games against Israel, Ukraine and even Portugal won't be a walk in the park.

#11 Turkiye 

FIBA EuroBasket 2022: 10th
FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike: 24th

We're still in the process of getting used to writing Turkiye, but yeah, you can expect Turkiye to be represented at EuroBasket. Though missing out on the World Cup was a disappointment, they've played some solid basketball under coach Ergin Ataman. They'll be involved for the tussle for the top spot, but Iceland and Hungary will be ready to pounce in case of any slip-ups.

#12 Poland 

FIBA EuroBasket 2022: 4th
FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike: 15th

Good news: Poland are EuroBasket co-hosts. More good news: Poland are already qualified for the Final Round. Bad news: there are none, I guess. With Balcerowski and Ponitka, they have a proven one-two punch that will give everyone, even group favorites Lithuania, a run for their money.

#13 Croatia 

FIBA EuroBasket 2022: 12th
FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike: 30th

Are they getting Mario or Super Mario for the window? That's sort of important, because they'll have to rub shoulders with Bosnia and Herzegovina and France in Group E and only two of them will reach FIBA EuroBasket 2025. They've made the last 14 editions of the event since 1993. No need to hit the panic button just yet, but this will clearly be the group to follow throughout the campaign.

#14 Georgia 

FIBA EuroBasket 2022: 21st
FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike: 23rd

Never underestimate the Georgian soul; and also never underestimate Toko Shengelia; and also never underestimate Giorgi Shermadini… You get the message. But maybe it's best if you don't check their age. Replacing Ilias Zouros and replicating the same sort of success won't be easy for new playcaller Aleksandar Dzikic, but we hope the cameras are rolling for what is likely to be the last dance for this group of players on the EuroBasket stage.

#15 Israel 

FIBA EuroBasket 2022: 17th
FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike: 42nd

There's some intriguing young talent available for coach Ariel Beit-Halahmy – and some experience too. But not enough of either to relax too much in a group featuring Slovenia, Ukraine and Portugal. All very winnable games; but all very losable too. Bold prediction: they will win some games, lose some games – and will be at the EuroBasket.

#16 Montenegro 

FIBA EuroBasket 2022: 13th
FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike: 17th

Back-to-back World Cup appearances; back-to-back EuroBasket appearances. Will they make it three? Montenegro have found the winning formula for qualifying to the big tournaments and don't think for a second they'll give away the secret sauce. Out of the trio of with Bulgaria and Sweden, it is Montenegro who seem like they are best equipped to push Germany for the top spot in Group D.

#17 Belgium 

FIBA EuroBasket 2022: 14th
FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike: 39th

It says a lot about a national team program, when the same coach has been in charge since… *checks* 2018. Dario Gjergja has been the steady rock for the Belgian Lions that has made them a tough opponent to play against for absolute everyone. Just ask Spain, just ask Lithuania… They have been handed a tough task in the draw, sharing a group with Spain and Latvia. They've not missed a EuroBasket since 2011 and will be odds on favorites to continue that streak.

#18 Bosnia and Herzegovina 

FIBA EuroBasket 2022: 18th
FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike: 40th

So you're saying Bosnia and Herzegovina are in the Group of Death again? The situation is quite straight forward: BIH need to finish above either France (#1 in the Power Rankings) or Croatia (#13 in the Power Rankings) to earn a spot at FIBA EuroBasket 2025. So while we're implying BIH may be the underdogs in this three-way race (in our completely unscientific ranking system), they do have an ace down their sleeve and that ace is Dzanan Musa, who is more than capable of ripping these words into shreds.

#19 Finland 

FIBA EuroBasket 2022: 7th
FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike: 20th

Good news: Finland are EuroBasket co-hosts. More good news: Finland are already qualified for the Final Round. Even more good news: Finnish fans will get to see some of the best players playing in Europe right now. Not so good news: Toko Shengelia, Iffe Lundberg, Shavon Shields, Marko Guduric, Aleksa Avramovic will be playing for the other team.

#20 Ukraine 

FIBA EuroBasket 2022: 11th
FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike: 35th

Fun fact: the most viewed video of EuroBasket was this little (sad) dance from Artem Pustovyi. We don't know if we'll see the same dance in 2025, but the chances are we'll see Ukraine there. They're in Group A with Slovenia, Israel and Portugal, with three teams going through. You probably wouldn't expect Ukraine to finish top of the qualifying group, but, equally, you also wouldn't expect them to finish bottom.

#21 Denmark 

FIBA EuroBasket 2022: Did not qualify
FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike: 58th

Iffe Lundberg and Shavon Shields on the same team sounds like a team that should be qualifying to the EuroBasket. There's a catch though. They will need to finish ahead one of Serbia and Georgia in Group G, with Finland qualified directly. Tough? Yes. Doable? Maybe. Big game against Georgia to tip things off will give us a better feel of how realistic this actually is.

#22 Estonia 

FIBA EuroBasket 2022: 19th
FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike: 44th

Our ears are still ringing from the noise Estonian fans brought to Milano. (For those less observant, #BringTheNoise was the campaign of the last EuroBasket)

Headlined by Maik-Kalev Kotsar, owner of the best name in the competition, the roster should give these same fans enough confidence to start exploring the 2025 destinations more closely. They will be testing Lithuania and the automatically-qualified Poland in Group H, but the final exam is likely to come against North Macedonia.

#23 Hungary 

FIBA EuroBasket 2022: 23rd
FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike: 43rd

We would love to see the traditional Hungarian huddle after each game of EuroBasket, win or lose, but Iceland, Turkiye and Italy will love to see this less than us. Italy and Turkiye are the favorites here, with Iceland challenging Hungary for the last spot. As they made it last time around, it's Hungary's spot to lose.

#24 Sweden 

FIBA EuroBasket 2022: Did not qualify
FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike: 49th

"They weren't too far off the World Cup spots in the European Qualifiers in the last campaign, but EuroBasket qualification sounds like a much more doable mission, especially if they do their job against Bulgaria."

These were the famous last words from the last EuroBasket campaign before Bulgaria went on to knock out Latvia. If Sweden, after a great FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 European Qualifiers campaign, don't want to do a "Latvia", they will need to take Bulgaria very seriously.

Could they challenge Germany and Montenegro? Tough to say.

#25 Iceland 

FIBA EuroBasket 2022: Did not qualify
FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike: 48th

Having just missed out on the World Cup by a single win, Iceland must feel they're right in the mix when it comes to qualifying for Eurobasket.. Everybody loves an underdog (and the unique brand of basketball they are playing) – if you're Hungarian, Italian or Turkish and someone is currently breathing down your neck, it might be Martin Hermannsson, Elvar Fridriksson and Tryggvi Hlinason trying to grab that ticket to the Final Round – watch out!

#26 Netherlands 

FIBA EuroBasket 2022: 22nd
FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike: 52nd

The facts on the ground are as follows: at least one of Netherlands and Great Britain will make it to FIBA EuroBasket 2025.

If you want to find out our actual prediction, flip a coin: heads for Netherlands, tails for Great Britain. If the coin lands on the side… well, then one of Czechia and Greece might be in trouble.

#27 Great Britain 

FIBA EuroBasket 2022: 24th
FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike: 53rd

The facts on the ground are as follows: at least one of Netherlands and Great Britain will make it to FIBA EuroBasket 2025.

If you want to find out our actual prediction, flip a coin: heads for Netherlands, tails for Great Britain. If the coin lands on the side… well, then one of Czechia and Greece might be in trouble.

#28 North Macedonia 

FIBA EuroBasket 2022: Did not qualify
FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike: 59th

A backcourt of  T.J. Shorts and Nenad Dimitrijevic? Sign us up, it'll be a fun game to watch (but less so without Shorts)! The pathway for North Macedonia to qualify goes through the Baltics. With Poland qualified automatically, North Macedonia will need to top at least one of Estonia and Lithuania and that's not going to be an easy task.

#29 Bulgaria 

FIBA EuroBasket 2022: 20th
FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike: 45th

They were somewhere in this range in the Power Rankings (if you're curious, #25 to be specific) before the FIBA EuroBasket 2022 Qualifiers. They were also in FIBA EuroBasket 2022 at the expense of Latvia.

#30 Portugal 

FIBA EuroBasket 2022: Did not qualify
FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike: 54th

Despite some promising domestic talent, Portugal faces an uphill battle against Slovenia, Ukraine, and Israel. But hey, every underdog has its day – watch out for Portugal to make some noise. Their opponents must pray Ruben Prey doesn't grow up too fast, because that kid is going to be one serious baller.

#31 Slovakia 

FIBA EuroBasket 2022: Did not qualify
FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike: 60th

Don't brush them aside just yet – Slovakia's got some serious talent. From Vladimir Brodziansky delivering in Spain to Tomas Pavelka tearing it up in Lithuania, there's no shortage of skill here. And hey, if Pavelka and Fusek share the court, watch out – it might just break the universe!

#32 Cyprus 

FIBA EuroBasket 2022: Did not qualify
FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike: 88th

Good news: Cyprus are EuroBasket co-hosts. More good news: Cyprus are already qualified for the Final Round. Bad news: we don't want to be mean to the new kids on the block in the EuroBasket Qualifiers, but Cyprus have to start at the end of the queue for now with three VERY difficult opponents.

Note:The Power Rankings are entirely subjective and is in no way a true, accurate ranking system. All comments are purely those of the author.