The European giant on the verge of collapse, the Spaniards lost too, a win would complicate the situation, the Slovenians at the bottom

Greek basketball is on the brink of collapse, having lost to both Spain and Ukraine in recent matches, while Bosnia and Herzegovina’s victory has complicated the situation further. Slovenia, meanwhile, finds itself at the bottom of its group after a heavy defeat against France. These developments have intensified the pressure on European teams ahead of the upcoming EuroBasket qualifiers, with several nations struggling to secure their place in the final tournament. The Greek national team, once a dominant force in European basketball, now faces a precarious position in Group I. After seven games, they have managed just three wins, placing them last in the standings with five matches remaining. Their latest loss came against Ukraine, which secured a 76–82 victory over Greece. The outcome was not surprising given Ukraine's superior talent, featuring players such as Mykhailo Kovylivskyi and Denys Mikhayluk. While Greece had hoped to rely on Vassilis Spanoulis to lead them into the EuroBasket championship, the absence of Giannis Antetokounmpo, the team’s biggest star, has left them significantly weakened. Instead, the squad includes his two brothers, Kostas and Thanasis, who offer limited impact. The rest of the roster lacks consistent scoring ability, with players like Kostas Papanikolaou showing signs of age, Vassilis Toliopoulos failing to meet expectations, and others such as Giannoulis Larentzakis and Panagiotis Kalaitzakis contributing mainly defensively. Point guard Nick Calathes, though effective during the loss to Ukraine, has struggled to maintain offensive consistency throughout the campaign. Spain, another top contender, suffered an unexpected defeat at the hands of Portugal, losing 89–95 in a match that raised concerns about their chances of advancing. Despite possessing a strong squad including players like Sergio Loura, Pablo Pradilla, and Marc Gasol, Spain failed to capitalize on their opportunities. The Portuguese team, led by players such as Quete, Williams, and Brita, proved too formidable. With this setback, Spain now faces a crucial test against Greece in Athens, where they will need to perform at their best to avoid elimination. The Greek team, despite its struggles, still holds some hope of securing a spot in the top three of the group, especially since both Spain and Ukraine currently hold four victories each. However, the path forward remains uncertain, particularly if Greece fails to improve its performance in the coming matches. Meanwhile, Bosnia and Herzegovina’s win over Italy has added complexity to Group L, where the team now looks to follow up with a victory over Lithuania in a key match. If successful, Bosnia could secure a fourth win and potentially qualify for the final tournament alongside Turkey and Serbia, although they still face potential sanctions. In contrast, Slovenia, which entered the group with three wins, has fallen behind after a crushing 67–92 loss to France. The Slovenian team now faces a critical home game against Hungary, where they will be under pressure to recover. The match will be coached by Gašper Okorn, a former coach of Cibona, and will feature the return of Nate Reuvers, a player who previously played under Okorn. If Slovenia fails to advance, it could mean that Luka Dončić will miss the EuroBasket championship, leaving only Nikola Jokić and Victor Wembanyama among the top European stars. Whether Dončić will eventually make the cut remains to be seen, as he continues to wait for a better opportunity to represent his country.