By Michalis Gioulenoglou/ info@eurohoops.net
From August 27 to September 4, sixty matches will be held in Katowice (Poland), Limassol (Cyprus), Tampere (Finland), and Riga (Latvia) for EuroBasket 2025.
Once they are completed, we will know the 16 teams that will qualify on the way to a medal, and then, every game is a knock-out contest that can’t be missed.
However, there are also early “must-watch” games that you can watch either on your local television right holders, or via the Courtside 1891 streaming platform.
Eurohoops presents you with seven picks from the group phase that you should watch no matter what!
Greece – Italy
When: 20:30 CET, August 28
Where: Limassol
It’s the first game of Greece and Giannis Antetokounmpo in the tournament, and also, there’s a very good chance that this contest will decide who will finish on top of the standings in Group C.
For the second consecutive EuroBasket, Italy will be called upon to face Giannis, as it did in 2022, playing at home in Milan. That game ended with an 85-81 victory for Greece, and Giannis racked up 25 points and 11 rebounds.
The two teams also faced off a few days ago in a prep game of the Acropolis tournament in Athens, Greece, with Greece winning in the last shot, despite playing without Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kostas Sloukas, and Dinos Mitoglou.
Lithuania – Germany
When: 12:30 CET, August 30
Where: Tampere
Theoretically, the most difficult match for the World Champions in the “Finnish Group“.
Jonas Valanciunas is called upon to deal with a quality front-line, and Lithuania wants to prove to the new power that anything is possible, even now that it is attempting a restructuring and has absences.
The two teams had also met in 2022, in the group stage, with Germany prevailing 109-107 after two overtimes (Valanciunas 34pts., 14pts., 5 assists – Wagner 32pts., 8 rebounds).
Latvia – Serbia
When: 17:00 CET, August 30
Where: Riga
The hosts of Group A compete against the team that has the title of the absolute favorite for the gold medal. Or, with a more catchy title: Kristaps Porzingis VS Nikola Jokic! In a packed stadium, for a top duel!
The game is part of the 3rd round of the Riga group, with Latvia already having a big test on the opening day against Alperen Sengun’s Turkey.
France – Slovenia
When: 17:30 CET, August 30
Where: Katowice
The silver medalists of EuroBasket 2022 and also of the Paris Olympics will face Luka Doncic in a rematch of the Tokyo Olympics semifinal, where France got the 90-89 win.
The hero of that game, former captain Nicolas Batum, has retired, and France has several missing stars, including Victor Wembanyama.
However, Doncic needs to do almost everything by himself in this tournament, and the game will be a huge test for him and Slovenia on the way to qualification from Group D.
Italy – Spain
When: 20:30 CET, September 2
Where: Limassol
A classic European derby between two traditional powers, which will have big implications for the standings and the possible path that the Spaniards, the champions of 2022, will have to take to defend their crown.
They last met at EuroBasket 2015, again in the group stage, with Italy winning with an impressive 105-98 (Gallinari 29pts – Gasol Pau 34pts).
Of course, in the final of the tournament, Spain won the gold medal, while the Italians finished in 6th place.
Turkey – Serbia
When: 20.15 CET, September 3
Where: Riga
If you are reading this from the States, you are thinking Sengun against Jokic. However, the real match-up here is coaches!
Flamboyant Ergin Ataman against legendary Svetislav Pesic, two top coaches, on the road to glory, which will be a true test of power for Sengun and co!
Ataman, who is never shy when it comes to statements, has already said that he wants a medal, because Türkiye, in its 90-year history, has won only a Eurobasket silver back in 2001, when the country was hosting the tournament.
Spain – Greece
When: 20:30 CET, September 4
Where: Limassol
For years, Spain dominated Europe, and even last summer managed to beat Giannis and Greece in the group stage of the Olympics, despite ultimately not making it to the quarterfinals due to the points difference on a tie.
The last time Greece beat Spain was back in 2013 in the group stage of Eurobasket (79-75), held in Slovenia.
So this might be payback time for Giannis Antetokounmpo and the game that can seal the first spot for his team.