FIBA EuroBasket 2022 qualifiers; Latvia and Montenegro out. Only two spots left.

The race to compete at FIBA EuroBasket 2022 has come down to the final two places, with 22 teams already confirming their places at next year’s event.

Belgium, Bulgaria, Finland, France, Great Britain, Hungary, Poland, Netherlands, Russia, Serbia, and Turkey joined the seven teams – Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, Israel, Slovenia, Spain, and Ukraine – that qualified in November alongside the four co-hosts of Czech Republic, Germany, Georgia, and Italy.

Estonia and North Macedonia remain in contention from Group B. Denmark and Lithuania will battle for the last berth out of Group C.

In yesterday’s games, it was a combination of push me, pull you with teams carrying each other to the Final Round. This was the scenario in Group D, where the Netherlands defeated Croatia 65-57 and effectively sent Turkey to FIBA EuroBasket 2022 because Turkey claimed the tiebreaker over Sweden with an 88-80 triumph earlier in the day.

In Group G, Great Britain needed a buzzer-beater to take down Germany 83-81 – and with France getting a close 73-71 win over Bubble hosts Montenegro, Luke Nelson’s game-winner turned out to be the shot that sent GB to the Final Round.

Montenegro wasn’t the only unlucky Bubble host of the day, as Latvia suffered yet another single point defeat in their campaign. Bulgaria’s 66-65 win ended Latvia’s run of nine straight FIBA EuroBasket appearances, but also their own 10-year-long drought. Bulgaria last played the Final Round back in 2011.

Speaking of runs, Belgium continued their own run, reaching their fifth straight FIBA EuroBasket with a +23 win against Denmark. With Lithuania beating the Czech Republic 94-74, we are all set for the final showdown: Denmark v Lithuania on Monday, the winner gets the final Group C ticket!