By Stathis Trapezanlidis/ info@eurohoops.net
Spain and Serbia are the unique European teams, which have managed to win the gold medal in FIBA World Cup. Serbs did it twice! Greece and Turkey were once finalists, while Lithuania and Croatia have won the bronze medal. Additionally, two national teams – Finland and Ukraine – debut in World Cup!
Spain:
In 2006 in Saitama, Spain won its first gold medal by beating Greece in final (70-47). Pau Gasol, who did not play in final due to injury, was the MVP scoring 21.25 points per game in tournament.
Serbia:
Serbia is the only European team – Brazil also from the rest – which was back to back Champion. Furthermore, it’s the only European team – except of Yugoslavia and Soviet Union – that has managed to win twice the gold medal.
First time for the Serbs was in Athens (1998) against Russia. They won 64-62 after a thrilling game and Dejan Bodiroga was the MVP of the tournament. Four years later Serbia won again the World Cup, this time beating Argentina 84-77 in overtime.
France:
In 1954 France won the fourth place in the World Cup, which was held in Brazil. Jean Paul Beugnot was the top scorer of the team and eighth in the tournament scoring 12 points per game.
Greece:
In 2006 the Greek national team beat (101-95) USA – Lebron James, Carmelo Anthony, Dwane Wade, Chris Paul and Chris Bosh were members of that team – in the semifinal. Theodoros Papaloukas – FIBA Europe’s player of the year 2006 – was the first and last Greek, who was a member of the all tournament team.
Croatia:
In 1994 in Canada, Croatia beat Greece 78-60 in the third place game and won the bronze medal. Dino Radja, in his first World Cup appearance after the split of Yugoslavia, scored 22.3 points per game (second leading scorer of the tournament) and led his national team to third place.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xH7-VJVmZrE
Turkey:
In 2010 in Istanbul, Turkey got to play in the final. Unfortunately for them Durant’s team was unbeatable, but the second place is its biggest moment in FIBA World Cups. Hedo Turkoglu was the MVP of Turkish national team.
Lithuania:
Also in 2010 in Istanbul, Lithuania won the bronze medal beating Serbia 99-88 in third place game. Linas Kleiza by scoring 19 points per game led his team to this success being the seventh leading scorer of the tournament.
Slovenia:
In the same tournament Slovenia beat Australia 87-58 and got the qualification to the quarterfinals of the tournament. That was the biggest moment in the World Cup for Slovenia, which had in its roster Jaka Lakovic, Bostjan Nachbar and Goran Dragic.
Finland, Ukraine:
Finland and Ukraine participate for first time in a World Cup after their good performances last summer in Slovenia (Eurobasket 2013). Ukraine finished in sixth place and got the qualification for World Cup, while Finland got a wild card from FIBA.