First away test for the National us in the EuroBasket 2025 qualifiers!
A few days after the premiere and the victory over the Czech Republic in the packed SEF and the debut of Vassilis Spanoulis in its technical leadership, the blue and white team will be asked to overcome their obstacle Netherlands (26/2, 20:30, Novasports 4, sport-fm.gr), looking for 2/2 in the first “window” of the qualifiers!
Despite the offensive problems it presented, especially in the first half, our National Team managed to start its obligations in the 6th group on the right foot, stepping on the gas in the fourth period and finally prevailing without stress, with 72-64, having as its leaders Mitoglou (22p), Papanikolaou (16Ï€) and Walkup (16 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists).
However, none of the three of them traveled to The Hague, while O Lorentzakis, who has some discomfort in the meniscus. On the other hand, Mr Papagiannis will normally be at the disposal of Spanoulis, while compared to the match with the Czech Republic, the dozen will be proposed Mitro Long, Luntzis, Manzoukas and Zougris.
“It is an honor and a pride to wear these colors, this shirt, there are many emotions. I’ve been waiting a long time for this. This week has been very big for the team and their preparation and I am very focused to be able to help.”said Naz Mitrou Long ahead of his first appearance with the blue and white.
The dozen of the National Team: Kalaitzakis, Rogavopoulos, Moraitis, Costas Antetokounmpo, Papagiannis, Toliopoulos, Mantzoukas, Kouseloglou, Mitrou-Long, Zougris, Lountzis and Charalambopoulos
On the other hand, Netherlands defeated 98-94 by Great Britain in Newcastle, in its own premiership, losing with … good evening important ground in the battle for qualification (3 of the 4 teams from each group qualify). The “Oranie” found themselves losing by as much as 21 points (69-48) in the middle of the third period, but they did not give up, managing to get within “shooting distance” (82-80), entering the “final stretch” of match. However, they were unable to complete the turnaround, knowing the defeat and having as their leaders Van der Wurst (23 points, 9 assists), Cluff (15Ï€) and Harms (12p).
“I think it will be a competitive game. Sometimes they tend to play at the level of their opponent and often the game is decided in the last quarter. We’re a team you shouldn’t do that against. So yes, I think we have a chance. We have to play our own game. “They will give us opportunities and we have to take advantage of that. I played against Greece with Giannis Antetokounmpo. And then the score was close and that is likely to happen again.”said the 33-year-old Dutch guard, Charlon Kloof, ahead of tonight’s match.
The two teams have met twice in the past, both the 2015. Initially, in the Acropolis tournament, our National Team won 92-80, while a month later in the EuroBasket, it had more difficulty, but prevailed again, 68-65.
In total, in 23 matches, Greece has 19 wins against the Netherlands:
15/05/1949 (Eurobasket-Cairo): Greece-Netherlands 46-28
12/06/1964 (Pre-Olympic-Geneva): Greece-Netherlands 72-67
03/06/1968 (Pre-Olympic-Sofia): Greece-Netherlands 68-64
05/21/1975 (EuroBasket Qualifier – The Hague): Netherlands-Greece 83-68
13/06/1975 (Eurobasket-Belgrade): Greece-Netherlands 65-66
12/07/1978 (Friendly-Athens): Greece-Netherlands 91-66
28/12/1978 (Friendly-Stockholm): Greece-Netherlands 90-98
15/06/1979 (Eurobasket-Torino): Greece-Netherlands 79-75 09/05/1981 (Proc. Eurobasket-City): Greece-Netherlands 105-94
24/05/1982 (EuroBasket Qualifier-Porto): Netherlands-Greece 71-67
20/06/1986 (Friendly-Piraeus): Greece-Netherlands 104-88
12/05/1987 (Friendly-Den Helder): Netherlands-Greece 98-97 13/05/1987 (Friendly-Suest): Netherlands-Greece 89-93
14/05/1987 (Friendly-Groningen): Netherlands-Greece 82-85
05/11/1987 (EuroBasket Qualifier-Thessaloniki): Greece-Netherlands 102-62
24/01/1988 (EuroBasket Qualifier-Amsterdam): Netherlands-Greece 66-93
03/06/1989 (Friendly-Athens): Greece-Netherlands 82-59
14/06/1989 (Friendly-Rotterdam): Netherlands-Greece 82-93
15/06/1992 (Friendly-Piraeus): Greece-Netherlands 81-63
07/06/1998 (Friendly-Nicosia): Greece-Netherlands 52-30
02/06/1999 (Friendly-Athens): Greece-Netherlands 65-39
27/08/2015 (Friendly-Athens): Greece-Netherlands 92-80
10/09/2015 (Eurobasket-Zagreb): Greece-Netherlands 68-65
Source: Sport Fm
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