One key question for each national team at the FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2021

STRASBOURG/VALENCIA (France/Spain) - With a month to go until the FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2021 gets underway, it feels like the perfect time to look ahead at a key question to be answered by each nation.

All 16 of the participating teams will be aspiring to make as deep a run as possible in the tournament, but what are the factors and players who could play the biggest role in success or failure?

 Will 'Swat Queen' Anastasiya Verameyenka get Belarus back on track?

A seventh Women's EuroBasket appearance by the frontcourt star would mean Belarus can dream of making it past the opening phase and collecting the first win at the Final Round since 2015 - when they made the Semi-Finals. A brilliant and experienced performer, she is the all-time EuroLeague Women leader in shots blocked and is so composed offensively, it's like she has ice running through her veins. 

 Can the Belgian Cats make their first-ever Final or even land a historic maiden title?

The Cats made the podium for the first time in 2017 with a third-place finish and were a frontrunner two years ago, but didn't make the Semi-Finals as they admitted to having felt the pressure. Since then, they responded by booking a first-ever Olympics place. Now they should surely be aiming for the title game in Valencia due to the quality on their roster such as Emma Meeseman, Julie Allemand and Kim Mestdagh for example.

 Back for the first time since 1999, will Bosnia and Herzegovina be able to shine?

After their wait of more than two decades, the Balkan nation will want to be more than a Women's EuroBasket tourist. With Marica Gajic, Melisa Brcaninovic and either Courtney Hurt or Jonquel Jones in the naturalized slot, they have an opportunity to cause some headaches for their opponents. 

 Is the free-scoring Ivana Dojkic money in the bank for Croatia? 

There is a whole lot of pressure right now on the prolific guard to remain the marquee player for Croatia. She was the joint leading scorer of the Qualifiers with a sensational 25.5 points per game and is a player for the clutch moments too. If she replicates anywhere close to those numbers, Croatia has a  great platform to build from as they return to the event for the first time since 2015. On the flip side, if she does not hit top gear, they might struggle.

 Who will the Czechs task with handling the ball in the big moments?

There was a major setback for Czech Republic playcaller Stefan Svitek when he found out he would have to manage without playmaker Lenka Bartakova. She was brilliant in the Qualifiers with a jaw-dropping 8 assists per game. She also averaged almost 30 minutes per outing and never missed a contest. Somehow, Coach Svitek has to find a solution and with no obvious successor, that is going to be a challenge.

 Will it be fifth time lucky for France after four successive Final defeats? 

They have the roster in terms of depth, quality and an array of game-winners who could deliver in the clutch. Marine Johannes, Sandrine Gruda, Alexia Chartereau and now Gabby Williams will all be highly influential and there are really no excuses left for this potentially brilliant team who surely must land the title.

 Will Maria Fasoula continue to be the key to success for Greece?

Nobody will forget the drama of the last seconds of the Qualifiers in a hurry when Fasoula made that last gasp 'And-1' play against Bulgaria so they could punch their ticket. The center was just a teenager when she debuted at the Women's EuroBasket in 2017 during her nation's epic run to the Semi-Finals. Now she looks to emerging as a leader ahead of time, having topped the scoring and rebounding charts for her team en-route to the Women's EuroBasket. If she is able to impose herself at both ends of the floor, can Greece dare to dream of a surprise run again?

 Will Italy's debutante Francesca Pan prove to be the breakout performer of the tournament?

The shooter has always had the talent and showed glimpses of her class during the Qualifiers. Now she could be on course for a big debut at the event having just been crowned the MVP of the Italian Championship Finals with Reyer Venezia as they snapped an astonishing 75-years without the silverware. Pan could be the one to take the pressure off Cecilia Zandalasini who always has to carry the scoring load for her team.

 Does the return of Jelena Dubljevic mean Montenegro are no longer the underdogs? 

The experienced forward ended her hiatus from national team duties in the last of the Qualifiers bubbles and was outstanding in helping her country successfully book their ticket. That kind of spectacular performance means Montenegro might be able to dream bigger again, not least because they can field a frontcourt rotation of Dubljevic, the underrated Milica Jovanovic and the powerful Markeisha Gatling. 

 Will the one-two punch of Maria Vadeeva and Raisa Musina be enough for Russia to challenge?

It's a decade since Russia won the tournament and waved goodbye to their long-standing golden generation. They've not come close to the podium since and not featured at any global event since London 2012. The brilliant duo of Maria Vadeeva and Raisa Musina again carry the bulk of their hopes. But surely now the supporting cast needs to turn up the noise if they want to support their leading duo in getting Russia back into medal contention.

 Is Yvonne Anderson the difference-maker in Serbia landing a third medal in four editions? 

The classy and energetic guard, who has just won the Italian Championship with Reyer Venezia,  wasted little time in making a splash during the Qualifiers at both ends of the floor after her adopted country asked her to fill the naturalized slot. The big concern over Serbia continuing to challenge for medals had been a lack of a top-level playmaker and this has now been addressed.

 Can Slovakia turn up the defensive dial to even higher levels?

When it comes to proven firepower, Slovakia have some limitations. Even the contributions of the classy Barbora Balintova and Sabina Oroszova are unlikely to be enough - especially after the in-form Angelika Slamova confirmed she would miss the tournament. Knowing they can't run and gun, Slovakia will likely live or die based on how good their defense is. Head coach Juraj Suja may need to find a strategy to hold teams to under 70 points at the very least.

 Are Slovenia really dark horses for the podium?

They have not even made the Quarter-Finals before, but are Slovenia ready to sit up and make everybody take notice? Unbeaten in the Qualifiers and have some top drawer players and leaders such as Eva Lisec, Teja Oblak and Nika Baric. They also have the impressive Shante Evans, plus rising star shooter Zala Friskovec. So if they perform to their potential, is that making the last eight for the first time, or should we watch them have a tilt at the podium?

 Can Spain be the first nation to go three in a row since the Soviet Union in 1991? 

It will be a challenge even with home advantage in Valencia. The co-hosts will welcome back the 2017 MVP Alba Torrens who was injured for when they retained their crown two years ago, while they also have some brilliant younger players like teenager Raquel Carrera who will debut. On the flip side, they will be missing a trio of hugely influential and experienced players from their 2019 success in Marta Xargay, Laura Nicholls and Anna Cruz.

 How will Sweden cope without the jewel in their crown? 

Unfortunately, standout center Amanda Zahui, who was massively influential at the last edition, is not able to play. It's a blow of course, but they still have some experienced and top drawer players such as Elin and Frida Eldebrink, plus Kalis Loyd who was terrific in 2019 and an exciting scorer in Swedish League Player of the Year, Klara Lundquist.

 Are Turkey in danger of another early exit? 

Having made the Quarter-Finals for four consecutive editions, harvesting a silver and a bronze medal, the wheels came off in 2019 when they went home after the Group Phase. Their transition has been accelerated by the likes of Isil Alben and Tilbe Senyurek missing through injury. They have some talented younger players coming through who could shine and the likes of Pelin Bilgic need to assume leadership roles, but this could be the most inexperienced roster they've fielded in memory.

FIBA