Neighbor vs Neighbor: Four regional matchups to spice up the Group Phase

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MUNICH (Germany) - The countdown to FIBA EuroBasket 2025 is ticking away, with Latvia, Finland, Cyprus, and Poland ready to host the most anticipated event of the summer.

While most matchups across the four different locations will bring fresh excitement and new discoveries, four clashes will see geographical neighbors cross paths on the top European stage.

Whether they take place by the Baltic Sea, under Scandinavian air, cradled by the Mediterranean, or far away from familiar ground, make sure you don't miss the regional matchups during the Group Phase.

Latvia vs Estonia

Time: Friday, August 29 - 17:00 CET Venue: Riga, Arena Riga (LAT)

Something has shifted in international basketball when it comes to the Baltic nations. While Lithuania's historic and unbreakable bond with the game remains as strong as ever, Latvia and Estonia have found new ways to capture the attention of basketball fans with their recent rise.

10 years after FIBA EuroBasket 2015, the neighbors will meet again in the Latvian capital - and it promises to be another sold-out party at Arena Riga. Expect a wave of passion traveling south from Tallinn.

Estonia won the first five meetings with their Baltic neighbors, but Latvia hasn’t lost an official game to the blue-black-and-white since 2003. Their 14th clash will take place on August 29 — and we can’t wait. Can you?

Head to Head: Latvia 8-5 Estonia

Sweden vs Finland

Time: Wednesday, August 27 - 19:30 CET Venue: Tampere, Tampere Deck Arena (FIN)

Lauri Markkanen dropping a double-double, Mikael Jantunen and Alexander Madsen boosting the frontcourt, Sasu Salin knocking threes. Has anything changed for Finland in these three years since their last victory against Sweden, on the road to the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023?

The answer stands behind both countries' ambition heading to Tampere, where they will begin their FIBA EuroBasket 2025 campaigns in a head-to-head encounter in Group B on August 27.

Sweden has been rising to the top, and have managed to return to the main EuroBasket stage after 12 years. And yes, they faced Finland at their last FIBA EuroBasket as well, in 2013.

While Lauri Markkanen and Finland may have higher ambitions at the event, their Nordic neighbors are here for a reason and will be a tough nut to crack in the opener.

Head to Head: Sweden 2-5 Finland

Cyprus vs Greece

Time: Saturday, August 30 - 17:15 CET Venue: Limassol, Spyros Kyprianou Arena (CYP)

It's hard to find basketball fans more excited right now than those in Cyprus. In just a few days, they'll have the chance to see some of the game's biggest global stars live in Limassol.

Even more historic, Cyprus will make its debut at FIBA EuroBasket as one of the tournament’s four co-hosts – and with it comes a first-ever meeting with Greece on the basketball court, a bortherly duel by all means.

Glory and tradition on one side and the novelty of the debut of on the other, yet both nations are bound by the same cultural roots and the same Mediterranean waves.

France vs Belgium

Time: Thursday, August 28 - 17:00 CET Venue: Katowice, Spodek Arena (POL)

Thus far, the list has contained regional clashes involving three co-hosts: Latvia, Finland, and Cyprus. However, in Katowice, there will be the opportunity to see two neighboring countries square off far away from home soil inParis or Brussels.

That's the case of France and Belgium. Out of the four matchups, this is by far the one with the longest tradition, as they officially first met on the court 90 years ago, at the inaugural FIBA EuroBasket 1935 in Geneva.

Fast forward to Poland, we will witness Les Blues and the Belgian Lions face off once again, six years after their last two clashes in the qualifying stage for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019. Will France's domination continue, or is Belgium ready to interrupt the losing streak?

Head to Head: France 15-3 Belgium

FIBA