Ready, set, go! Who will spring an opening day upset?

LJUBLJANA / TEL AVIV (Slovenia / Israel) - The opening action at the FIBA Women's EuroBasket 2023 promises plenty as Serbia tip off their title defense and a number of underdogs eye up a day one success.

Marina Maljkovic and her players will face Turkey in Ljubljana, while other games include co-hosts Slovenia opening up with a crunch clash against the unpredictable Great Britain. In Tel Aviv, co-hosts Israel will be out to cause an upset against the podium-chasing Belgium, while Latvia will look to unsettle title favorites Spain.

Group A (Tel Aviv)
Montenegro vs Greece - 11:15 CET (12:15 local)
Latvia vs Spain - 20:00 CET (21:00 local)

Group B (Tel Aviv)
Italy vs Czech Republic - 14:00 CET (15:00 local)
Belgium vs Israel - 17:15 CET (18:15 local)

Group C (Ljubljana)
Great Britain vs Slovenia - 18.00 CET
Germany vs France - 20:45 CET

Group D (Ljubljana)
Slovakia vs Hungary - 12:15 CET
Turkey vs Serbia - 15:00 CET

Game of the Day: Turkey v Serbia

The 2021 champions will be favorites to get off to a winning start, not least because Turkey have not been able to field their naturalized centerpiece Teaira McCowan during the entire preparation period. It remains to be seen if she finally pulls a national team jersey back on and if she does, Turkey's chance of success will soar significantly. Although Serbia captain Tina Krajisnik will relish doing everything she can nullify the threat in the paint.

Both nations have severely contrasting fortunes when it comes to recent games in the tournament, with Turkey having lost five of their last six outings - as many defeats as in their previous 25 games in the competition, Meanwhile Serbia have won their last seven games in the first phase.

Question of the Day

Facts of the Day

- Greece have lost their last five games in the competition by an average margin of 23 points. It is also their longest ever losing run.

- Hungary have played 200 games at the FIBA Women's EuroBasket, one of only three teams to have reached that mark in the competition, with France on 234 and Italy 211.

- Israel have not won at the FIBA Women's EuroBasket since 1991, although interestingly, they were also hosts that year and it was on the opening day of the tournament. 

- Germany have only won one of their 11 Group Phase games during the 21st century. They have also never previously beaten France.

- Czech Republic have lost their opening game in each of their last five FIBA Women’s EuroBasket tournaments.

Did you miss it?

- What did the coaches and captain say on the eve of the competition? Catch up with the key comments from every nation from the pre-event press conferences.

- Check out our feature on Israel rising star Yarden Garzon who is ready to put on a show for the fans and talks about debuting with her sister in the competition.

- Who came out on top in the last volume of the Power Rankings?

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