France’s home gold

By George Orfanakis/info@eurohoops.net

Is the home advantage important for the team whose country hosts the tournament? Does each host get a head start compared to the rest of the teams? In this case, is France an even stronger favorite since the final stage of the EuroBasket is going to be held in Lille?

Eurohoops.net searched and found the final position in which all the host countries that have held the EuroBasket finished, from way back in 1937 and Switzerland up to the most recent tournament in Slovenia, and drew its conclusions regarding the level of influence the home court has.

In a total of 38 tournaments, the host country has managed to climb on the podium 19 times, which is a 50% figure! In the last 30 years, however, that percentage has dropped significantly since in the last 16 EuroBasket competitions the host country has managed to celebrate a medal just 6 times (37.5%).

Over the years the home court factor has been gradually losing its sway, as most teams might enjoy the support of their fans but at the same time are unable to bear the weight of being the favorites. At the same time, with the number of teams that participate in the EuroBasket having gone up to 24, the competition has become much fiercer while hosting the tournament has been taken up by countries that are not traditional basketball powers (Slovenia, Sweden, Poland).

Now, France’s progress in the EuroBasket in September is anticipated with great interest, so we can see whether Tony Parker and his gang will confirm the rule of the last few years that wants the favorites – and, in particular, those playing at home –having a tough go!

Year Place

Final standing of host country

Winner
1935 Switzerland 4th Latvia
1937 Latvia 6th Lithuania
1939 Lithuania 1st Lithuania
1946 Switzerland 5th Czechoslovakia
1947 Czechoslovakia 2nd Soviet Union
1949 Egypt 1st Egypt
1951 France 3rd Soviet Union
1953 Soviet Union 1st Soviet Union
1955 Hungary 1st Hungary
1957 Bulgaria 2nd Soviet Union
1959 Turkey 12th Soviet Union
1961 Yugoslavia 2nd Soviet Union
1963 Poland 2nd Soviet Union
1965 Soviet Union 1st Soviet Union
1967 Finland 6th Soviet Union
1969 Italy 6th Soviet Union
1971 Germany 9th Soviet Union
1973 Spain 2nd Yugoslavia
1975 Yugoslavia 1st Yugoslavia
1977 Belgium 8th Yugoslavia
1979 Italy 5th Soviet Union
1981 Czechoslovakia 3rd Soviet Union
1983 France 5th Italy
1985 Germany 5th Soviet Union
1987 Greece 1st Greece
1989 Yugoslavia 1st Yugoslavia
1991 Italy 2nd Yugoslavia
1993 Germany 1st Germany
1995 Greece 4th Yugoslavia
1997 Spain 5th Yugoslavia
1999 France 4th Italy
2001 Turkey 2nd Yugoslavia
2003 Sweden 16th Lithuania
2005 Serbia and Montenegro 9th Greece
2007 Spain 2nd Russia
2009 Poland 9th Spain
2011 Lithuania 5th Spain
2013 Slovenia 5th France
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