Make your picks: Who will win on Thursday?

MUNICH (Germany) - The FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Qualifiers will tip off with an exciting nine-game slate on Thursday, with some of the top names from across Europe in action. 

The opening day of the Qualifiers will see defending European champions Spain start their title defense against Latvia, while recently crowned FIBA Basketball World Cup winners Germany will play their first official game since lifting the Naismith Trophy in Manila with a fixture against Montenegro.

There will more must-see basketball around the continent, as Italy host Turkiye in an exciting head-to-head clash in Pesaro, while neighbors Lithuania and Poland will test each other in Vilnius. 

Game of the Day: Italy vs Turkiye

The early advantage in Group B is at stake between Italy and Turkiye, who also have Hungary and Iceland in the group. Italy come back together for the first time since reaching the FIBA World Cup Quarter-Finals for the first time in 25 years this past summer. Their talisman leader Gigi Datome has retired and this will be a good chance for the young generation to take a step forward. Turkiye have not missed a FIBA EuroBasket since 1991 but they did miss out on competing at last year's World Cup.

FIBA