FIBA Europe officials finalized the playoff brackets for the European Basketball Championship yesterday as the group stage came to a close. All eight matchups have been confirmed with teams now preparing for the knockout phase set to begin tomorrow in Riga.
Turkey will face Sweden in what promises to be an intriguing contest between two teams with contrasting styles. Meanwhile, tournament hosts Latvia will battle against neighboring Lithuania in what could be the most emotionally charged matchup of the round.
Other confirmed pairings include Germany versus Portugal, Serbia taking on Finland, Greece against Israel, Poland facing Bosnia and Herzegovina, Italy matched with Slovenia, and France squaring off against Georgia.
"Having all playoff games concentrated in one location gives this tournament a true championship atmosphere," a tournament organizer noted when discussing the decision to hold all knockout matches in the Latvian capital.
Interestingly, the Baltic derby between Latvia and Lithuania will attract significant attention given the basketball rivalry between these neighboring countries. The host nation will hope to capitalize on home court advantage at this crucial stage.
All eight matchups are scheduled to begin tomorrow, September 6, with games taking place exclusively in Riga. The single-elimination format means there's no room for error – one bad day and a team's championship dreams are over.
Which teams will handle the pressure of knockout basketball? The answer comes tomorrow when the real drama begins.
