MUNICH (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers) - European national teams will play a total of 32 games over three days in the second window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Qualifiers.

Friday will be especially busy, with 16 games taking place all across the old continent. Game Day 4 will be split into two slots of basketball, with eight games each to follow on both Sunday and Monday.

We asked our experts - Simas Baranauskas (SB), Igor Curkovic (IC), David Hein (DH) and Jeff Taylor (JT) - some basic questions to help you prepare for the February Window. 

To beat Serbia, Germany must find a way to slow down Miroslav Raduljica, who averaged 21.5 points and 8.0 rebounds in two wins back in November

If I had to choose one game to watch on Friday, it would be...
SB: France v Russia. France may be 2-0 in Group E and the odds-on to maintain their status at the top of the table in the February window, but FIBA EuroBasket 2017 darlings Russia aren't going to make it easy in Strasbourg. History is very much in France's favor when it comes to head-to-head meetings, with Les Bleus coming out on top in all nine games against Russia on French soil. Having split their games in November, coach Sergey Bazarevich could get a leg up on group rivals Belgium and Bosnia and Herzegovina with a positive result in France. 
IC: Montenegro v Slovenia. Got to keep it in the neighborhood... A couple of teams with 1-1 marks, both strong favorites to advance to the Second Round, so they could already be thinking about the results they would carry over to the next round. Moraca is a tough place for any away team, maybe the Slovenian task is a bit easier since a lot of the players have experienced what it is like to play there in the ABA League. Montenegro failed to upset Spain there back on opening day back in November, so here's a chance for some redemption in front of their fans, and it comes against the reigning European champs!
DH: Germany v Serbia - with ease. Group G is the only group in the European Qualifiers with two undefeated teams and they will face off in Frankfurt in front of a sell-out crowd. Sure, both teams are missing some big guns but they also have a lot of key players on board. Germany showed at FIBA EuroBasket 2017 that they are a country on the rise and a win over the mighty Serbia behind the home crowd would go a long way for their confidence. A couple of others to watch: 0-2 Croatia welcoming 1-1 Romania; 1-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina hosting 0-2 Belgium; and 1-1 Russia heading to 2-0 France.
JT: The prospect of Germany v Serbia is mouthwatering, a couple of unbeaten teams ready to go at it. I think Germany guard Bastian Doreth said it all when asked about the significance of this one. "It's not only important in the standings but important for our feeling, our confidence, important that we know we're able to beat a big team and this is a great time to do it," he said. "If you want to qualify for the World Cup, you have to beat a team like Serbia." As for Serbia, in my opinion they are the closest thing there is to a lock to be at the first-ever 32-team World Cup. Even so, remember the last time the sides squared off in Germany, at EuroBasket 2015? It went to the wire and Serbia won. I expect this one to be close, too.

Belgium lost at home to France in November and will look to turn the tables on the French when they meet in Strasbourg on Sunday

If I had to choose one game to watch on Sunday, it would be...
SB: I'll go with Finland v Bulgaria in Group F. If the first game between the sides is anything to go by, we should be set for another exciting one. Having cut it close on the road and nipped Bulgaria 82-80 in Botevgrad, the Jamar Wilson-led Susijengi will be hoping for a slightly less stressful outcome in the mid-table tussle. Especially with the home crowd howling for them at the Helsinki Ice Stadium. But don't count the underappreciated yet very competent Bulgarian side, featuring FC Barcelona star Sasha Vezenkov. They'll be dangerous on the road.
IC: France v Belgium. These two go way back, with the rivalry set to hit game number 67 on Sunday! France won 47 games against Belgium, more than against any other opponent, and I also have a Did You Know moment for you - France and Belgium even squared off at the Roland Garros court! It was back in 1934, France won by a massive score of 50-17.
DH: Not to just stick in Group G, but Georgia vs Germany could be a really thrilling game. Germany will be coming off their big clash against Serbia while Georgia will have faced Austria on the road with the hopes of getting their first victory in the group. But most importantly, Georgia's fans will finally get to see their idols in Tbilisi as the national team will have played their first three Qualifiers on the road. Honorable mention: Estonia vs Israel - Tallinn is not an easy place to get a road win.
JT: How can we not say Greece v Great Britain, especially after what happened in the first meeting, an overtime classic won by the Greeks in England with a late three-pointer by Ioannis Athinaiou?! If the Brits can get a win in Israel (remember they lost to Greece, 95-92 and at Estonia, 73-70), they'll be right in the hunt for a spot in the Second Round. And the visitors should be breathing fire for both of their February games after the speech made by Labour MP for Tottenham, David Lammy, in Parliament this week. 

Latvia will be hoping that facing Turkey at Arena Riga results in a different outcome than when they squared off in Bursa

If I had to choose one game to watch on Monday, it would be...
SB: There really is only one correct answer here: Croatia v Netherlands. After receiving blows from the Dutch and the Italians in November, Croatia are the only winless team in Group D heading into the February window at 0-2. Having lost by 7 points in Rotterdam, the fired-up Hrvatska will be chasing the head-to-head deficit, not just the win. Although they do always find ways of disappointing their fans, I don't think that's going to be the case in Zadar. And seeing a motivated and concentrated Croatian team for once should be fun.
IC: Latvia v Turkey. Turkey are the only unbeaten team in Group B after that first Qualifying Window, including a 12-point win against Latvia. But we have already learned that they are a different team away from home, which is why this Latvian test will be perfect for them. A potential Turkish win sees them take a First Round sweep over Latvia, that's a lot of points they could carry over to the Second Round.
DH: Let's go with Latvia versus Turkey. These two teams faced off at the FIBA EuroBasket 2017 and Latvia won in Istanbul. But Turkey would love to steal a big road game against one of the top rising teams in Europe. Latvia cannot afford to drop a home game and will be out for revenge after losing the first game of the Group B against Turkey. Other possible game: Croatia vs Netherlands - Croatia could be fighting for their lives by the time this game comes up.
JT: I'm going all central Europe on you with Poland visiting Hungary. Both of these teams are desperate to capitalize on the additional exposure for basketball that the World Cup Qualifiers are bringing. Also, I have to turn it over to a player once again, Poland's Mateusz Ponitka, who said: "We have to win against Hungary away if we want not just to advance from the group, but if we want to do something bigger in the Second Round." BRING-IT-ON!

Expect Klaipeda's Svyturio Arena and Stockholm's Hovet Arena and other venues to be fully packed and extremely loud

These Qualifiers have brought national team basketball to different home courts. Which arena are you expecting to be especially electric in February? 
SB: Svyturio Arena in Klaipeda should be packed for Lithuania's double-header against Hungary and Kosovo. Having drawn a packed gym against Poland in November, it's no wonder why the Lithuanian Basketball Federation made Klaipeda their home for the next two home fixtures as well. Expect the noise levels to max out once again with the bearded Lithuanian fans beating their drums and cheering their team on with passion.
IC: Can't go against Zadar, Croatia! The Basketball Capital of Croatia hasn't seen a competitive game of the national team since the one against Russia in 2004, and the team hasn't even played any friendly games in Zadar since 2010. The new Kresimir Cosic Arena isn't as scary as the smaller, mythical Jazine Hall was for the visitors. Then again, opponents now have to go up against 8,000-strong crowd...
DH: Sarajevo's Dvorana Mirza Delibasic will be rocking as Bosnia and Herzegovina face almost a must-win at home against Belgium in a tough Group E with France and Russia. And the Sarajevo fans already helped the Bosnians to a home win over Russia. Second choice: Reykjavik with Iceland hosting Finland and Czech Republic.
JT: If a team like Sweden loses its first two Qualifiers yet still sells out its February home game against Turkey in Stockholm's famous Hovet Arena a month ahead of time, you know something's up. Swedish fans may be about to channel their inner Viking and bring some blowing horns, and don't forget there will be some boisterous Turkish fans on hand.

Spain's guard Quino Colom and Georgia's young big man Goga Bitadze are among the players to keep an eye out for during this second window

Teams have different approaches for these Qualifiers. Some opted for experienced players, others went with young guns. Which two players - one veteran, one youngster - are you most excited to see over these three days of basketball?
SB: It's almost certainly going to be the last pair of games that 38-year-old Ksistof Lavrinovic plays for the Lithuanian national team. He did not get a lot time on the court in November, but still averaged 5.5 points and 2.0 rebounds per game. He's had one hell of an international career, which lasted for nearly 15 years, albeit with some minor breaks.
The most exciting youngster? That must be Vlatko Cancar! The 20-year-old Mega Bemax rising star stepped up in a big way and averaged 19.5 points per game for Slovenia in fixtures against Belarus and Spain. Possessing out-of-this world length and wingspan, Cancar has continued to round out his game nicely in the ABA League and it will be interesting to evaluate his progress.
IC: Not sure we should consider Quino Colom a veteran... Quino will be 30 in November, and he excelled for Spain over the first window. He seemed to be overlooked at times in a loaded Spanish backcourt, but he is proving he could be a star for the national team after putting up 20.0 points and 6.5 assists per game against Slovenia and Montenegro.
Have to travel all across Europe to get to the youngster - Goga Bitadze. Georgia's 18-year-old seven-footer is having a great season, averaging 11.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game for Mega Bemax. Expect him to step up for the national team now!
DH: Latvia are an up-coming power but some of those top guns are not yet available for the windows, meaning Zanis Peiners will probably continue to be one of the most productive players in the European Qualifiers. Second choice: I love watching Quino Colom of Spain. As far as the youngster goes, the easy choice is Dzanan Musa of Bosnia and Herzegovina. We all know what the 18-year-old Musa can do. But not too far behind is Romania's Emanuel Cate. The 20-year-old big man leads the team in scoring (14.0 ppg) and rebounds (8.0 rebounds per game) while shooting 85 percent from the field and blocking 1.5 shots.
JT: Man, this is a great time for Sergii Gladyr to show us what he is all about. I've always felt like the Ukraine sharpshooter has a toughness to his game that goes beyond his ability to drill it from deep. I think if the 29-year-old is at his best, Ukraine can win at Latvia on February 23. In terms of sheer talent and youth, one has to be absolutely captivated by Belgium's Hans Vanwijn (he turned 23 on February 15). Hans, show 'em - Bosnia and Herzegovina and France - what you got! 

FIBA