Eurobasket Kick off Preview: Spain chase fourth European title

Finland, Romania, Israel and Turkey are the quadruplet of host nations for 40th European Basketball championships which gets underway this week with defending champions Spain looking to add a fourth European trophy to their bulging cabinet.

The Spaniards came away with an 80 points to 63 victory over Lithuania two years ago to claim the gold medal and can already be backed at 6/4 to get the job done once again.

What do I need to know?

A total of 24 teams have qualified for the tournament and will duke it out in four groups of six with the top four securing passage through to the knockout stage.

The sixteen surviving teams then play a round of sixteen knockout tie before the standard quarters, semi and final with a bronze medal match between the two beaten semi-finalists.

The top four seeds for the tournament are unsurprisingly favourites Spain, last year’s finalists Lithuania, 2013 champions France and 2009 silver medallist’s Serbia.

What Great Britain’s chances?

Not great we are afraid to say, team GB’s best ever performance at the European Championships is thirteenth having failed to qualify for the tournament two years ago.

British basketball has had a torrid time of late after losing its Sport England funding, the event will be team GB’s fourth appearance in the tournament but it is believed that after an underwhelming performance at the 2012 London Olympic where the team finished ninth, is what led to the withdrawal of the funding.

However, with qualification assured in this European championship, a positive performance could go a long way to convincing Sport England chiefs that the national basketball side are worthy of backing.

Victory at 300/1 may be too much to ask but making the round of sixteen would constitute success for head coach Joe Prunty.

Aside from Spain who might slam dunk their way to victory?

Serbia are second favourites to land a fourth European basketball title. Under former name Yugoslavia, the side claimed gold in 1995, 1997 and 2001 during a golden period for the national basketball side.

Still strong, Serbia pose a very real threat to Spain but have not reached the final since 2009 when they lost to favourites Spain 85 points to 63.

The Serbians to gain revenge can be backed at 4/1 to get over the line and pip the Spaniards to a fourth title.

Last year’s finalists Lithuania will be targeting going one better and following up their 2003 European triumph.

2015’s final defeat for Lithuania was their second final defeat in a row after also losing to France 80 points to 66 in the 2013 final.

Revenge will be on the cards and Lithuania look a good price at 8/1 to claim a second European title.

Rounding out the top four see’s 2013 champions France instilled as third favourites to lift the crown at 5/1.

The French have been regular semi-finalists over the last 25 years and will be aiming to turn that consistent form into a second European win.

Whatever happens, fast paced action and entertainment is assured, role on Thursday.