MIES (Switzerland) - The quest towards Qatar 2027 continues in Europe, as 16 teams will be back in action across four groups in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 European Qualifiers First Round on Friday.
In Group E, all three tickets were handed out, but Croatia, Germany and Israel are fighting for better records to carry over to the Second Round.
In Group F, only Poland is through so far, while Group G sees Hungary with a match point to join France and Finland in the next phase, and all four teams are still in the hunt in Group H.
With every result carrying through to the Second Round, each game has the potential to make or break a nation's hopes of eventually reaching the World Cup.
Who do you think will have a successful start to Window 3 on Friday? Cast your vote below and let us know!
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Finland have won eight of their last nine games at home in the World Cup Qualifiers, with all eyes on Lauri Markkanen, who has averaged 21.3 points and 8.3 rebounds in his six appearances in the World Cup Qualifiers. He has also scored 22+ points, grabbed 7+ rebounds and made 2+ steals in each of his three home games in the competition.
Poland have won their last four games in the World Cup Qualifiers and if they win this one against Austria they will match their longest winning spell in the Qualifiers; Poland have already won two games in the current campaign after trailing by 10+ points.
Slovenia have won their most recent three games in the World Cup Qualifiers and will try to win four straight fixtures for the first time in the competition; they are scoring 93.0 points per game in the current campaign, the most of any European team.
Croatia have scored 14.8 points per game through fast break situations, the most of any team in Europe in the World Cup 2027 Qualifiers, while also leading the assists-per-turnover rankings, too, at 2.36. Mario Hezonja had 25 points in the reverse fixture against Cyprus; he is averaging 21.7 points and 7.5 rebounds per game in the competition.
Germany have won 13 of their last 15 games in the World Cup Qualifiers, with their two defeats in the process happening on the road; they have scored more than 80 points in each of their last five games in the Qualifiers. Dennis Schroder has averaged 21.9 points and 7.1 assists in his eight World Cup Qualifiers appearances and had three double-doubles in that span; he had 30 points and 13 assists in his previous game against Israel in the competition, back in September 2018.
The Netherlands are making 24.0 free-throws per game, the most of any team in Europe in the World Cup 2027 Qualifiers; in fact, they have made 25+ shots from the line in three of their four games thus far.
France have won all their previous three games against Belgium in the World Cup Qualifiers, with all those encounters ending with margins of more than 10 points; Belgium reached half-time in a leading position in each of those three previous meetings.
Guerschon Yabusele scored exactly 16 points in both of his World Cup Qualifiers appearances for France (August 2022), while also posting 5+ rebounds in each: he could become only the second Frenchman with 3+ games of 15+ points and 5+ boards in the Qualifiers (after Louis Labeyrie).
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