MIES (Switzerland) - The first day of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 European Qualifiers Second Round gives the 12 teams in action the chance to set the tone for the rest of the way.
In Group K, Poland are taking their perfect 6-0 record to Riga, as they take on Israel, while Croatia and the defending champions Germany are both at 5-1 ahead of their matchups with Latvia and Netherlands, respectively.
In Group L, France are at 5-1, with Finland close behind at 4-2. The rest of the group could hardly be tighter, with Estonia, Sweden, Slovenia and Hungary all sitting at 3-3.
Only the top three from each group will book their flights to Qatar next summer.
Who do you think will have a successful start to Window 4 on Thursday? Cast your vote below and let us know!
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Finland have won 12 of their last 14 home games in the World Cup Qualifiers, including an 85-69 win over Sweden in June 2022, their second-biggest win in the competition. They have also scored 80+ points in six of their last eight home games.
Lauri Markkanen has scored 22 or more points in each of his four home games in the World Cup Qualifiers, with Finland winning all those four encounters.
Estonia have won two of their three away games in the World Cup 2027 Qualifiers but have never won more in a single Qualifiers campaign; three of their last four away games in the competition ended with a margin of two points or fewer.
Henry Drell has scored 23 and 29 points in his most recent two away games in the World Cup Qualifiers; Estonia have been victorious in all their three road games in which Drell has scored in double figures.
Croatia scored 100+ points in their last two games, as often as in previous 22. Mario Hezonja has had 10+ points and 10+ rebounds in three different games, the most of any player in Europe in these Qualifiers.
Hezonja is also the only European player to have played in all six games while averaging 15+ points, 5+ rebounds and 5+ assists (19.3 pts, 8.3 reb, 5.3 ast).
Latvia's last seven games in the Second Round: 7-0.
Germany in their last 17 games in the World Cup Qualifiers: 15-2.
Dennis Schroder is the only European player to average 20+ points and 5+ assists while playing more than five games. Schroder has scored 20+ points in four of his five games in the Qualifiers.
Keye van der Vuurst (20.8) trails only Tornike Shengelia (21.3) in points per game among all players with six games in Europe in the World Cup 2027 Qualifiers.
Poland scored 90+ points in their last three games, as often as in previous 21.
Yam Madar scored 20+ points in his last four games for Israel, making 16 threes in that run.
France are 15-0 at home in the World Cup Qualifiers, winning 12 of those games by 15+ points.
Victor Wembanyama averaged 19.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.8 blocks and 2.0 steals per game in his four World Cup Qualifiers appearances.
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