MIES (Switzerland) - The first window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 European Qualifiers is complete and the final day of games was highlighted by Finland upsetting France; Germany, Croatia and Hungary finishing perfect starts; Poland breaking Netherlands' hearts; and Tomas Satoransky setting a new assists record.
The 16 nations in Groups E to H were playing across the continent in their final games of the opening window of the European Qualifiers.
Daily Highs
Efficiency: Tomas Satoransky (CZE) - 35 Points: Ludde Hakanson (SWE) - 34 Rebounds: Mario Hezonja (CRO) - 13 Assists: Tomas Satoransky (CZE) - 16 Steals: Andrew Albicy (FRA) - 4 Blocks: Dominik Olejniczak (POL) / Retin Obasohan (BEL) / Joppe Mennes ( BEL) - 2
Late run gives Finland win over France, Hungary with 2-0 start
The FIBA EuroBasket 2025 Semi-Finalists Finland finished the opening window on a high as they fought back to surprise France 83-76 at home to salvage a split in their first Group G games. The result leaves both teams even at 1-1 in the group.
The French temporarily opened a 10-point lead in the second quarter but never could control the game. Finland trailed by seven points in the final frame but delivered a 17-4 run to take an 80-74 lead with 85 seconds to play.
Edon Maxhuni paced Finland with 20 points, Alexander Madsen had 14 and Mikael Jantunen collected 9 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists. Matthew Strazel scored 11 points in the loss while France captain Andrew Albicy collected 7 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 4 steals in his final game for the national team.
The surprise undefeated leaders of Group G are Hungary, who wasted a 15-point lead but came back to beat Belgium 87-85 on the road. Belgium used a 23-4 run to pull ahead 72-68 and it was 83-79 with 2 minutes left. Nate Reuvers answered with a three-pointer and two free throws for Hungary.
Reuvers finished with 26 points and 10 rebounds, Szilard Benke scored 19 points and Adam Somogyi contributed 7 points and 13 assists in the win. Retin Obasohan did all he could with 31 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks for Belgium, who finish the window at 0-2.
Second half enough for Germany over Cyprus, Croatia also 2-0
The reigning world champions Germany completed a perfect sweep of the window as they dusted off Cyprus 83-64 on the road in Group E. Germany sleepwalked through the first half - leading only 42-39 at the break - before shifting into sixth gear directly out of the locker room with a 27-9 third quarter.
Four German players scored in double figures with David Kramer picking up 14 points and 10 rebounds while Till Pape also had 14 points in his national team debut. Germany out-rebounded Cyprus 49-28 including 24 offensive rebounds for 23 second chance points. Nikos Stylianou scored 16 points as leading scorer for Cyprus, who are 0-2 in the group.
Croatia matched Germany's perfect start by a comfortable 85-71 win over Israel in the other group game. Croatia took the middle two quarters 46-31 to decide the game, which dropped Israel to 0-2.
The 19-year-old Michael Ruzic tallied 23 points and 9 rebounds while Mario Hezonja had 19 points and 13 boards for Croatia. Israel could not take advantage of 20 points from Roman Sorkin.
Record man Satoransky pulls strings for perfect Czechia
Czechia took sole possession of first place in Group H by knocking off Estonia 97-92 on the road thanks to an outstanding Tomas Satoransky, who set the record for the most assists in a World Cup Qualifier.
Czechia led by nine points in the fourth quarter but Estonia reeled off a 13-1 run to pull ahead. But Satoransky tied the game at 92-92 and dished out his record-setting 16th assist down the stretch for the 2-0 Czechs.
Satoransky eclipsed the previous mark of 15 assists from Sweden's Ludde Hakanson against Czechia earlier in this window. Satoransky also collected 18 points, 4 rebounds and 3 steals in the game for a 2-0 mark. Ondrej Sehnal added 15 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists in the win. Estonia fell to 1-1 despite Kaspar Treier's 26 points and 20 points from Artur Konontsuk.
Slovenia also finished the first window with a 1-1 record after pulling away from Sweden 94-83 on the road. Sweden wiped out a 17-point deficit from early in the second quarter and tied it midway through the third period. But Slovenia punched back with a 14-4 surge to finish off the winless Swedes.
Ziga Samar led six Slovenia players in double figures with 16 points and 5 assists and Gregor Glas added 15 points. Sweden got an outstanding performance from Ludde Hakanson with 34 points on 7 of 11 three-pointers and 6 assists. But only three Swedish players scored more than 6 points.
Poland reverse 21-point deficit in Netherlands, Latvia get first win
Poland rallied from 21 points down to beat Netherlands 85-83 on the road and stay perfect in Group F and break the hearts of the hosts. Poland just kept chipping away and took the lead 83-82 on a three-point play by Michal Sokolowski with 23 seconds left. And Sokolowski added two free throws with 6.4 seconds to go to finish off the win.
Mateusz Ponitka scored 22 points with 9 rebounds in the victory while Jerrick Harding had 17 points and Sokolowski finished with 12 points. Yannick Franke poured in 26 points in the loss for Netherlands, who missed a chance to stay perfect in the first window but will have to be satisfied with a 1-1 mark.
In the other Group F game, Latvia bounced back from their loss to Netherands by rolling past Austria 86-68 on the road. Latvia improved to 1-1 thanks to a 29-17 third quarter while Austria fell to 0-2.
Rihards Lomasz scored 22 points and Karlis Silins added 17 points in the win. Bogic Vujosevic had 25 points and 8 rebounds for Austria but they were not enough.
Results
Group E Cyprus 64-83 Germany Israel 71-85 Croatia
Group F Netherlands 83-85 Poland Austria 68-86 Latvia
Group G Finland 83-76 France Belgium 85-87 Hungary
Group H Sweden 83-94 Slovenia Estonia 92-97 Czechia
FIBA