MUNICH (Germany) - There is a chance that all four tickets to the FIBA EuroBasket 2021 Qualifiers could be gone after Thursday's action in the Second Round of the Pre-Qualifiers.

The trio of Austria, Denmark and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia could join the already qualified Belgium if results go their way, but there will be a healthy list of challengers looking to keep the drama alive.

There is a lot to look forward to in the penultimate gameday in the current phase of the competition. The local derby between Sweden and Denmark will answer a lot of questions in Group A, MKD will look to lock in their berth in Group B, while anything short of a win would mean the end of the road for Great Britain in Group D.

Group A: Sweden (1-1) v Denmark (2-1)

Time: 18:30 CET, Thursday
First game: Denmark +4, 76-72
Follow this game because: A do-or-die Scandinavian derby with the qualification hopes of both teams on the line in Malmo. Simply put, this is a game that cannot disappoint. Although Denmark are in pole position to advance from Group A, they need a win to make it happen and Sweden will not make it easy.
Permutations:
- Denmark would advance with a win; 
- Sweden and Belarus would be eliminated if Denmark win;
- If Sweden win by 4 points or more, Denmark would be eliminated.
Key matchup: The absence of Darko Jukic did not hold Denmark back in the first Scandinavian clash against Sweden, with Kevin Larsen and Gabriel Lundberg pacing the team to victory. But the return of the Bakken Bears man gives the Danes two-way quality and a gritty defender to limit the production of Chris Czerapowicz, who had 27 points the last time around.
Fact of the game: Sweden have conceded fewer than 60 points in two of their last three home games: 58 against Turkey in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers and 59 against Belarus in the last game of these EuroBasket Pre-Qualifiers.
The 'insider' prediction: This one is particularly hard to call. It can go both ways, but home court advantage is home court advantage even with Denmark just over the Oresund bridge. Advantage Sweden but by the slightest of margins.

Group B: Romania (1-1) v MKD (3-0)

Time: 17:00 CET, Thursday
First game: MKD +14, 90-76
Follow this game because: It is now or never for Romania, as anything short of a 14-point win would eliminate them from contending for the top spot in the standings. Can MKD prolong their winning streak and put things to bed in Group B?
Permutations: 
- MKD would advance as long as they don't lose by more than 13 points;
- Romania would be eliminated if they don't win by at least 14 points;
- Kosovo have already been eliminated.
Key matchup: This big man duel between Richard Hendrix and Emanuel Cate will likely be the central axis of the contest again. There was no conclusive winner in the matchup when the teams met in Skopje, with Hendrix collecting 14 points and 7 rebounds and Cate putting together a 15-point, 8-rebound and 4-block effort.
Fact of the game: Bojan Traikovski has made two double-doubles for MKD in the Second Round of the EuroBasket Pre-Qualifiers: he is the only player with more than one double-double in the Second Round of the competition.
The 'insider' prediction: Boasting an unbeaten record, MKD are the team to beat in Group B. Although Romania will get a big boost from the home crowd, they will still be the underdogs of the contest.

Group C: Iceland (0-2) v Portugal (1-2)

Time: 20:45 CET, Thursday
First game: Portugal +3, 80-77
Follow this game because: No one likes finishing last and that is exactly what will be at stake in Reykjavik, with Iceland looking to make up ground for the 80-77 defeat in Portugal earlier in the Second Round.
Permutations:
- Belgium are guaranteed to finish first in Group C;
- Portugal and Iceland have already been eliminated.
Key matchup: Martin Hermannsson has played just one game in the Pre-Qualifiers, but Portugal will know how difficult he can be to contain, having already been on the receiving end of 20 points and 8 assists. Portugal will require a defensive effort by committee to stop the Icelander.
Fact of the game: Portugal have made a total of 10 shots from behind the arc in their last two games of the Pre-Qualifiers combined, but scored an average of 11.5 shots from three-point range in the First Round of the Pre-Qualifiers, the most among all teams.
The 'insider' prediction: This is a good opportunity for Iceland to open their victory count in the Pre-Qualifiers and get some momentum before the Third Round. Up to this point, most games in Group C have gone down to the wire and there's little reason to expect Iceland v Portugal to be an exception to the rule.

Group D: Great Britain (1-1) v Cyprus (0-3)

Time: 20:00 CET, Thursday
First game: Great Britain +14, 75-61
Follow this game because: Events in Manchester will determine whether Great Britain will give themselves a chance to challenge table-toppers Austria on the final day of the Second Round. A win would keep Great Britain alive in Group D, with Austria going through if Cyprus steal one on the road.
Permutations:
- Austria would advance if Cyprus beat Great Britain;
- Great Britain would be eliminated with a defeat;
- Cyprus have already been eliminated.
Key matchup: It looks like Myles Hesson and Nikolaos Stylianou are set to give us another exciting back and forth battle. Team GB man Hesson was on fire in the last window with 19.5 points per game, while Stylianou has been the man in form for Cyprus with 18 or more points in two of his last three appearances in the Pre-Qualifiers.
Fact of the game: In their seven games in both rounds of the EuroBasket Pre-Qualifiers, Cyprus have won only when they conceded fewer than 70 points.
The 'insider' prediction: All the pressure will be on Great Britain to get a result and Cyprus will have nothing to lose. That is bound to bring an element of unpredictability, but Great Britain should be able to get the job done.

FIBA