CIOVO ISLAND (FIBA EuroBasket 2021 Pre-Qualifiers) - Ahead of this week's Pre-Qualifiers, rumors have it two of the experts have been breaking bread down on the Croatian coastline...this could make for interesting reading.

Simas Baranauskas, Igor Curkovic and Jared Grellet, our three writers, have been following these teams since the start of the campaign, and some of them even earlier, in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Pre-Qualifiers.

In theory, they should know what to expect in the next phase of the FIBA EuroBasket 2021 Pre-Qualifiers. In theory...

We will be writing about four of these teams in the FIBA EuroBasket Qualifiers – which four will it be?

SB: This is putting the cart before the horse to a certain extent, but I think the quality in the disposal of Sweden, Romania, Belgium and Great Britain should be enough to land them spots in the Qualifiers. I would circle out this quartet as the early front-runners, though I would never rule out the possibility of Iceland putting together an underdog bid against the Belgian Lions in what seems like the toughest group of them all, also featuring a dangerous Portuguese side.
IC: You would think that it's the Croatian sun that has hit me in the head, but I'm willing to go with Iceland over Belgium. Iceland looked better than Belgium in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers First Round, and having met Eidur Gudjohnsen in Croatia ahead of the FIFA World Cup, I'm becoming Iceland's biggest fan in all sports. Don't tell anyone. Sweden, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Team GB in the other groups, thanks.
JG: It could be the salt in my eyes, but I am with you Igor. Remember the FIBA EuroBasket 2017 Qualifiers? Who did Iceland defeat to qualify? Belgium. Of course, on that occasion both teams made it, but Iceland showed they can do it, and I am calling them to do it again. As for the other three teams? I am going with Sweden, MKD and Austria. Sure, the Austrians failed to win a game in the World Cup Qualifiers, but they showed in an almost boil-over against Serbia what they are capable of.

Thomas Kleipesz will be aiming to shoot Austria into the Qualifiers

I have a life. This means I [have been told by my non basketball loving life partner] can't watch more than one game in this window. Which one do I watch?

SB: Denmark were the only team to finish the First Round of the Pre-Qualifiers without a single defeat, going 4-0 in Group B against Armenia and Albania. I am intrigued to see how they will stack up against their arguably more talented Scandinavian rivals from Sweden, coached by an excellent basketball mind in Vedran Bosnic. Local derbies always have a bit of an edge to them, so…after I'm finished with lunch on Sunday, I'm definitely tuning in to watch Denmark v Sweden at 14:15 CET.
IC: I think you need to break up.
JG: MKD v Romania, accompanied by a Sunday roast. This could ultimately decide who wins this group, already now.

Denmark for the Sunday upset?

Some teams come here on account of winning against weaker opposition. Others are here on account of losing to tougher opposition. Who gets the upper hand?

SB: Although some of the teams that came up through the Pre-Qualifiers might be riding high with confidence, faced with a choice, I would on most occasions pick teams arriving from the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers. They were there for a reason. One notable exception I see here is MKD, who might cause Kosovo and Romania some problems in Group B.
IC: Well, Iceland haven't been losing to tougher opposition, they were knocked out because a late three-point attempt rimmed out for them in Bulgaria. They defeated Czech Republic and Finland in back-to-back games, they were close in two games against Bulgaria. They get the upper hand.
JG: Clearly Igor, the one-game-a-window rule does not apply in the Curkovic household. I agree though, that the teams coming down have the upper hand. Denmark are actually the only team arriving at this stage with a perfect record, showing none of the teams from the First Round of Pre-Qualifiers were particularly dominant and ready to make a big statement. 

Iceland - the unluckiest team to be in this situation?

Of the four teams - Cyprus, MKD, Portugal and Denmark - who advanced to this window following the First Round of Pre-Qualifiers - who is/which are most likely to continue their quest in the main Qualifiers?

SB: I have to go with MKD. First of all, they looked competent and convincing in the last round of the competition, save for the last-round defeat to Switzerland. Secondly, they might have avoided some of the tougher opponents by drawing Romania and Kosovo. MKD finishing top in Group B would still be a surprise for me, but it's not a completely unthinkable scenario.
IC: Anniversaries are fun. That's why MKD got my vote, I want them to reach the FIBA EuroBasket 2021, in fact, I want them to match their output from FIBA EuroBasket 2011, when they were Semi-Finalists. I know, I know, that's next to impossible. Also, interested to see what Denmark get out of Gabriel Lundberg in this part of competition - loved him in the First Round of the Pre-Qualifiers!
JG: Heart says Denmark, head is with MKD. As stated above, I am convinced they are carrying on in the competition. There have been a number documented difficulties that GB have been working themselves through of late, hence opening the door for an MKD revival. Bring. Back. Bo.

This is a team that could be rising once again

Going to play 3x3 with two guys from this window. Who you got?

SB: If you've ever played 3x3, you will know that it's a lot more about power than finesse. I have got dibs on Sweden's floor general Thomas Massamba to run the point and Rasid Mahalbasic of Austria to offer a presence in the paint. Meanwhile, I will be out there spotting up for three. The good thing is that our team starts out  with an advantage in the 'expert' position. Shots fired, I know.
IC: Ha! What advantage!? Didn't your team lose out to my adopted homeland of Greece in the Final of the media tournament at FIBA EuroBasket 2017? No advantage for you, my dear SB. Great Britain not in action for this window, so I'm picking both Gabe Olaseni and Ovie Soko, they will be fresh and well rested for our 3x3. Good luck grabbing a rebound against us!
JG: Damn it! I wanted Olaseni. But Simas, you mentioned power? Something Icelandic people are world famous for. Therefore Tryggvi Hlinason under the basket. Feeding him in the post will be easier than leading a horse to water...except I am confident he will take the opportunity to fill up points. The hard-nosed Viktor Gaddefors is rounding out my team, loved his no-nonsense approach to the first window.

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