ARG/CRO – Dangerous predictions

RIGA (FIBA U19 World Championship) – Predict the outcome of Friday’s encounter between Croatia and Argentina at your own risk as both these teams can go from red hot to stone cold from one game to the next.

When Argentina suffered a heavy defeat in Day 1 to fellow quarter finalists Australia the idea of them somehow making it into the last eight seemed absurd. For a team relying heavily on its perimeter play, three successes from an attempted 23 from beyond the arc spelled trouble for Enrique Tolcachier’s men. The 49 points they posted to Australia’s 73 remain the second lowest score of any game in this Championship.

Since then, the South Americas have gone from strength to strength, falling only to an excellent Poland. Their ability to go on rapid scoring runs is arguably as good as that of any other team in the tournament and, as Brazil found out with Luciano Massarelli’s long rage tournament knock-out blow, it ain’t over till it’s over.

If you think that Tolcachier has reasons to despair, imagine what Drazen Brajkovic feelt like when his team lost to Korea only a day after shocking big guns Lithuania, albeit that defeat occurred in the absence of starters Toni Katic, Dario Saric and Marko Ramljak. Croatia’s roller coaster ride continued with a win in their last game over unbeaten tournament favourites USA, during which Toni Katic produced arguably the finest performance of any point guard so far in this Championship.

Croatia’s starting five is a match for any team’s, but has also clocked up some very serious game time. Their fans will be concerned that they followed up their last major scalp with a shocking performance. Fortunately, this Quarter Final at least comes after a day’s rest.

If either team has an off day, they will be punished. If both teams are at their best, expect a top game of contrasting styles that will go down to the wire.

FIBA