Just when it seemed that the Greek national team would comfortably wrap up the first phase of the 2027 World Cup qualifiers, an unexpected 73-66 loss to Romania changed the situation and turned the game against Portugal (7:30 p.m.) into a crucial matchup.

Greece suffered its second loss in the group and no longer has full control over its own fate regarding seeding, while also risking carrying two negative results into the second phase—a factor that could prove decisive in the battle to qualify for the World Cup finals.

As a result, Sunday’s (July 5) match in Ano Liosia against Iberia takes on the character of “final,” as a victory is the only way to both secure qualification and maintain the best possible standing heading into the second phase.

As a reminder, the top three teams in each group advance to the second phase, carrying over their results against the other qualifying teams. This means that every win or loss could prove invaluable as the teams continue their journey toward the 2027 World Cup.

On the court, among the players called up by Vassilis Spanoulis, the injured Dinos Mitoglou, Panagiotis Kalaitzakis, and Dimitris Flionis were left out of the “squad,” while Nikos Touliatos, Nikos Plotas, and Giannis Karakostas—who had participated in training—did not play in the game against Romania. The Greek team will field the same starting lineup as in Thursday’s game: Kostas Papanikolaou, Giannoulis Larentzakis, Vasilis Toliopoulos, Dimitris Moraitis, Vasilis Charalambopoulos, Giannis Kouzeloglou, Giorgos Tsalbouris, Dimitris Kaklamanakis, Nasos Bazinas, Nikos Persidis, Omiros Netzipoglou, and Eliza Mitrou-Long.

The Portuguese squad: Diogo Brito, Vladislav Vojtso, Ricardo Monteiro, Travante Williams, Francisco Amarante, Diogo Ventura, Miguel Queiroz, Daniel Relvao, Anthony Da Silva, Nuno Sa, Rafael Lisboa, and Cantido Sa.

Standings for Group 2

1. Greece 3-2
2. Montenegro 3-2
3. Portugal 2-3
4. Romania 2-3

Next Matchday (Sunday, July 5)

Greece vs. Portugal 7:30
p.m. Montenegro vs. Romania 9:30 p.m.

The tournament format

The qualifiers are held in two phases. In the first phase, teams are divided into groups, and the top three teams from each group advance to the next round, carrying over their results against the teams that also advance.

In the second phase, the two groups are merged into a new six-team group, with each country facing only the three opponents from the other group—and not the ones they have already played in the first phase.

If Greece advances to the second phase, it will play against the three teams that qualify from the first group—that is, three of the following: Spain, Georgia, Ukraine, and Denmark.

Once the games are over, the top three teams from each new group will qualify for the 2027 FIBA World Cup.

*photo source: basket.gr