Eight must-watch matchups in Europe for Window 3

MUNICH (Germany) - The final window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 European Qualifiers First Round is almost upon us as several teams look to take their next steps towards the Philippines, Indonesia and Japan.

12 teams have already qualified to the Second Round with 12 more spots available and there are some important clashes coming up this week.

Here's a look at eight must-watch encounters:

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FINLAND v SWEDEN

Time: Thursday, June 30 -17:30 CET
Place: Espoo, Espoo Metro Arena

Finland moved to the top of Group C with a double triumph over Slovenia, but no team has locked up a Second Round spot and Sweden will be out to shake things up on Gameday 5. The rivalry continues in Espoo with Finland looking to atone for their 72-62 loss in Stockholm when the two sides met in the opening window. Both teams have a chance to qualify with victory in this matchup and it's all to play for.

LATVIA v SERBIA

Time: Thursday, June 30 - 18:30 CET
Place: Riga, Arena Riga

It was a thriller on the opening night in Belgrade when they previously met as Serbia survived to claim a dramatic one-point victory. Latvia certainly had their chances to win and have the Bertans brothers reunited to bolster their roster for the final window. Both teams have already qualified for the Second Round, but cannot afford to take their foot off the gas with the result counting towards classification in the next phase.

POLAND v ISRAEL

Time: Thursday, June 30 - 20:30 CET
Place: Lublin, Globus Arena

After their impressive run at the last World Cup in 2019, Poland are a loss away from an early elimination in the Qualifiers. They have to beat Israel at home to keep their hopes alive and set up a tense final day in Group D action. Israel were 69-61 winners on Gameday 1 and a repeat success would seal their place in the Second Round with a game to spare.

SLOVENIA v CROATIA

Time: Thursday, June 30 - 20:15 CET
Place: Ljubljana, Arena Stozice

This promises to be an exciting matchup on a number of levels. The international return of Goran Dragic, Luka Doncic back in a Slovenia jersey again and in the midst of that, Croatia really need a result. They lost a nail-biter by two points in Zagreb in the opening window before two further defeats followed to leave a hill to climb. Another loss, coupled with a Sweden win, would spell the end of the road, so Croatia will be desperate to pull off a win in the road with their own returning stars at their disposal.

CZECH REPUBLIC v BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

Time: Friday, July 1 - 20:00 CET
Place: Pardubice, Enteria Arena

Czech Republic are another team in must-win territory and they face two tough encounters as they look to turn their fortunes around with Tomas Satoransky on board. They lost by seven in a high-scoring battle in Sarajevo as Bosnia and Herzegovina made a strong start to their window with their own place in the next phase still to be confirmed. Vojtech Hruban helped the Czechs get off the mark last time out and they need to carry that winning momentum in front of their own fans.

GREAT BRITAIN v TURKEY

Time: Sunday, July 3 - 17:00 CET
Place: Newcastle, Vertu Motors Arena

Turkey comfortably won the last matchup in Istanbul with an 84-67 victory, while Great Britain have a great recent track record at home in Newcastle with scalps including Greece earlier in the First Round. Both teams know they are already through, but will feel they need to add to their win tallies as they sit behind Greece in the standings. Turkey try to bounce back from two defeats in the past window with GB not in action since November.

GEORGIA v SPAIN

Time: Monday, July 4 - 17:00 CET
Place: Tbilisi, Tbilisi Arena

Unbeaten Spain's quest for 6-0 has to go through Tbilisi with Georgia yet to be beaten on home soil in the First Round. Both teams are safely through to the Second Round, but know this result will definitely be carried forward and could make a huge difference in their starting points heading into August. Spain have been relatively untroubled so far, but this could be a testing prospect for a squad that has some inexperience.

LITHUANIA v CZECH REPUBLIC

Time: Monday, July 4 - 18:30 CET
Place: Klaipeda, Svyturio Arena

Potentially part two of Czech Republic's turnaround - or they could be already out. They know they need to better the results of Bulgaria against the top two sides in Group F so while one win may be enough, two might not be, but either way, they need a win. Heading to Lithuania on Gameday 6 is right up there in terms of the difficulty factor and the group leaders will have their own target of finishing the First Round with a perfect record to take with them.

FIBA