MUNICH (Germany) - The first two FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 European Qualifiers gamedays are out of the way. The next ones will be in February 2022, which means we can use this time in between windows to review the performances of all national teams.

Since we are living in a digital world, it only made sense to express our views on each team the same way we express feelings nowadays, whether we're talking sports, politics, love, music or anything else.

Meaning, we'll summarize their performances with emojis.

Group A

4/12 games played

		GAMES				GAME POINTS					POINTS
#	Team	P	W	L	%	For	Agt	+/-	FA	AA
1	Belgium	2	2	0	100	156	126	30	78	63	4
2	Serbia	2	1	1	50.0	170	173	-3	85	86.5	3
3	Latvia	2	1	1	50.0	182	175	7	91	87.5	3
4	Slovakia	2	0	2	0	131	165	-34	65.5	82.5	2

Belgium 🤩

The stars of the window! Just imagine, Dario Gjergja's boys were in the Pre-Qualifiers three years ago, but they used it to turn the next page and now we're looking at a team that is capable of defeating Serbia.

Serbia ⏰

The alarm clock is getting louder and louder. Serbia were one field goal away from an 0-2 record, but coach Svetislav Pesic is well aware of it and already said he is learning about his team's weaknesses. Expect a much tougher Serbia in February.

Latvia 🤨

So, which one is the real Latvia? The one that almost upset Serbia in Belgrade? Or, the one that was almost upset by Slovakia in Riga?

Slovakia 🤏

So close! Slovakia were up by four points heading into the final five minutes of the game in Latvia, but then lost the last five 18-6 to stay winless in this group. Up next, back to back games against Serbia.

Group B

4/12 games played

		GAMES				GAME POINTS					POINTS
#	Team	P	W	L	%	For	Agt	+/-	FA	AA
1	Belarus	2	1	1	50.0	151	147	4	75.5	73.5	3
2	Turkey	2	1	1	50.0	154	151	3	77	75.5	3
3	Greece	2	1	1	50.0	146	145	1	73	72.5	3
4	Great Britain	2	1	1	50.0	145	153	-8	72.5	76.5	3

Belarus 😲

Authors of the biggest upset of the first window! Belarus shocked the continent with a 14-point win over Turkey, which puts them in a position to hunt a 3-1 record in two games against Great Britain in February.

Turkey 🎢

The best roller coaster ride in all of Europe, get your tickets as soon as possible because the Turkish national team is here to take you from 0 to 60 and back in a matter of seconds. No in-between with this squad, you're either at the top or the bottom.

Greece 🙃

Upside down sounds about right. Greece lost to Great Britain for the first time in 37 years, but they aren't stressing about their downs, they are enjoying the ups of beating Belarus easily in Thessaloniki.

Great Britain 😲

Prior to November 2021, the only time Team GB had beaten Greece was back in 1984. This game was just a reminder that Great Britain could keep on shocking the rest of the continent as long as Teddy Okereafor is around to knock down successive three-pointers.

Group C

4/12 games played

		GAMES				GAME POINTS					POINTS
#	Team	P	W	L	%	For	Agt	+/-	FA	AA
1	Slovenia	2	2	0	100	170	163	7	85	81.5	4
2	Sweden	2	1	1	50.0	161	156	5	80.5	78	3
3	Finland	2	1	1	50.0	139	143	-4	69.5	71.5	3
4	Croatia	2	0	2	0	145	153	-8	72.5	76.5	2

Slovenia 🎯

Here's the deal. Coach Aleksander Sekulic has a contagious atmosphere surrounding this team, one in which everybody can be on target when Slovenia need it most. One day it's Jakob Cebasek in Croatia. The other, Klemen Prepelic in Slovenia. They just know how to win close games.

Sweden 🔜

Win over Finland and a solid battle in Slovenia makes Swedish basketball fans all nervous because February can't come soon enough. Back to back games against Croatia could send Sweden to the Second Round!

Finland ⌚

The thing about the great shooters, they are always there when there's a need for somebody to punch the clock and say "you know what time it is." Sasu Salin couldn't hit the ocean from the pier for 39 minutes against Croatia, and then delivered a clutch three to win the game.

Croatia 🐌

A slow start for Croatia. The days of smooth sailing through the FIBA EuroBasket 2022 Qualifiers are long gone. Croatia shot themselves in both feet, losing two close games, and are in danger of missing the flight for the Second Round.

Group D

4/12 games played

		GAMES				GAME POINTS					POINTS
#	Team	P	W	L	%	For	Agt	+/-	FA	AA
1	Israel	2	2	0	100	148	130	18	74	65	4
2	Estonia	2	1	1	50.0	138	145	-7	69	72.5	3
3	Germany	2	1	1	50.0	138	138	0	69	69	3
4	Poland	2	0	2	0	130	141	-11	65	70.5	2

Israel 💪

They don't have the size, but they can flex their muscles now because they've outsmarted Poland and Estonia to get a perfect 2-0 start to the Qualifiers. And it feels like they are getting better with each window.

Estonia 🙃

Losing at home is a big no-no, but then again, Estonia won a road game in this window, too. The most fun thing about their first two upside-down matchups? They're averaging the same number of points as Germany, who are in the same position.

Germany 🙃

Losing at home is a big no-no, but then again, Germany won a road game in this window, too. The most fun thing about their first two upside-down matchups? They're averaging the same number of points as Estonia, who are in the same position.

Poland 😢

It's the beginning of a new era under coach Igor Milicic, and it's going to take time for Poland to find the fluidity they had under coach Mike Taylor. Nothing unusual about that, it usually happens when you change coaches for the first time in seven years. 

Group E

4/12 games played

		GAMES				GAME POINTS					POINTS
#	Team	P	W	L	%	For	Agt	+/-	FA	AA
1	France	2	2	0	100	151	121	30	75.5	60.5	4
2	Montenegro	2	1	1	50.0	150	142	8	75	71	3
3	Hungary	2	1	1	50.0	135	153	-18	67.5	76.5	3
4	Portugal	2	0	2	0	144	164	-20	72	82	2

France 🔒

The best defensive team of the entire competition, France allowed just 121 points in two games. They locked up Montenegro at home and Hungary on the road, easing through to a 2-0 start.

Montenegro 💪

It took strength to fight with France on the road, and it took strength to break away from Portugal in the fourth quarter in Montenegro. It will take even more strength to face Hungary twice in February.

Hungary 🥶

Playing at home should be a plus, but for Hungary's shooting, it got really cold really fast. Only 32 percent shooting against France, including an abysmal 4-of-22 from beyond the arc. They would've had problems with a weaker team than the Finalist of the Olympics...

Portugal 💔

It has to be heartbreaking to lose a two-possession game to Hungary, and then to stick around Montenegro for most of the game before ending up with a 14-point defeat.

Group F

4/12 games played

		GAMES				GAME POINTS					POINTS
#	Team	P	W	L	%	For	Agt	+/-	FA	AA
1	Lithuania	2	2	0	100	163	135	28	81.5	67.5	4
2	BIH	2	2	0	100	182	165	17	91	82.5	4
3	Czech Republic	2	0	2	0	156	171	-15	78	85.5	2
4	Bulgaria	2	0	2	0	144	174	-30	72	87	2

Lithuania 💯

Smooth sailing. No stress. No surprises, exactly a year since their biggest surprise when they lost to Denmark at home in the FIBA EuroBasket 2022 Qualifiers. Now they are at 100 percent, going 2-0 with a +28 points difference.

BIH 💛💙

Miralem Halilovic was asked to explain how this team keeps finding energy to fight in close games. He said the players are all out there out of love. Love has taken Bosnia and Herzegovina to 2-0, right up there with juggernauts like Lithuania, France, Spain, Slovenia...

Czech Republic 🤐

Should we talk about Czech Republic entering panic mode? They enjoyed the summer, reached their first ever Olympics, but could not steal a game from BIH or Lithuania here. Two matchups against Bulgaria in February are now two must-win games for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Quarter-Finalists.

Bulgaria 😴

They reached the FIBA EuroBasket 2022 Final Round, but it feels like they fell asleep afterward. Losing to Lithuania by 20 on the road and trailing BIH by 19 at one point at home, that really feels like they reached REM phase of sleeping. 

Group G

4/12 games played

		GAMES				GAME POINTS					POINTS
#	Team	P	W	L	%	For	Agt	+/-	FA	AA
1	Spain	2	2	0	100	183	126	57	91.5	63	4
2	Georgia	2	1	1	50.0	149	172	-23	74.5	86	3
3	Ukraine	2	1	1	50.0	161	149	12	80.5	74.5	3
4	North Macedonia	2	0	2	0	126	172	-46	63	86	2

Spain 🏆

Sergio Scariolo insisted Spain aren't the defending champions, because they aren't defending anything, they have to go and attack the Qualifiers like everybody else. But they way Spain cruised to 2-0 and +57... They definitely looked like the defending champions.

Georgia 🛫🛬

Tornike Shengelia played for CSKA Moscow, flew in straight after the game, won another game for Georgia, flew back out, with mission accomplished written next to this window. Love something in life as much as Tornike loves playing for Georgia...

Ukraine 😬

That face you make when you realize you've got to play the World Cup winners Spain twice in February...

North Macedonia 🌞

There's a song saying that eternal sun shines in North Macedonia. Of course it does, they've got a 17-year-old Teodor Simic capable of scoring 18 points in 16 minutes against Spain. He's the main reason why they smile so much in MKD. 

Group H

4/12 games played

		GAMES				GAME POINTS					POINTS
#	Team	P	W	L	%	For	Agt	+/-	FA	AA
1	Russia	2	2	0	100	181	143	38	90.5	71.5	4
2	Italy	2	1	1	50.0	153	165	-12	76.5	82.5	3
3	Iceland	2	1	1	50.0	144	166	-22	72	83	3
4	Netherlands	2	0	2	0	150	154	-4	75	77	2

Russia 🏠

The only team to play two home games in the Window. They used the schedule perfectly to get to 2-0, winning by double digits against Italy and Iceland. Their third game will also be at home, meaning they finish the First Round with three straight games on the road.

Italy 😅

Well that was close, wasn't it? After a tough game on the road in Russia, Italy were in real danger of being winless at the end of WIndow 1. However, Stefano Tonut and Michele Vitali did their part, coming up big in the clutch, getting Italy to 1-1.

Iceland 🧊🧊👶

Ice cold Iceland showed no mercy to close out the game against the Netherlands. Winning on the road is always all that important, and they will be happy with a 1-1 record when they realize they were the only team to play two road games in the window. Two games against Italy coming up in February.

Netherlands 💔

Do you need a hug? Because when you lose not one, but two games by two points, you look like somebody who needs a hug. Both Italy (-12) and Iceland (-22) have a win, and a worse points difference than the Netherlands (-4) after two games.

FIBA