Now Comes the Crucial Part: Eagles, Time to Settle the Score with an Old Rival!

Serbia concluded the first phase of qualifications as the second-placed team in Group C, boasting four wins and two losses. A new group has now been formed, comprising the Eagles, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Turkey, Italy, Lithuania, and Iceland.

The Eagles currently sit in third place within this new group. Turkey dominated the initial phase, remaining undefeated with six victories. They hold pole position and will face Italy, Iceland, and Lithuania, just like Serbia. Italy, on the other hand, experienced one defeat in the first qualification stage but secured five wins. Serbia follows them, with Lithuania and Iceland trailing with three wins and three losses each. Dario Đerđa's team is at the bottom of this group, with two wins and four losses.

Dušan Alimpijević's squad holds their destiny in their own hands. Serbia has two seemingly straightforward matches against Iceland, but we also have a long-standing rivalry with Italy, and it's time to settle some scores from previous major tournaments. Lithuania also presents a significant challenge, but we know how to handle them.

Our first match is against Iceland on home soil on August 28th, followed three days later by an away game against Italy. The match against Iceland is crucial, and if Italy were to lose to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the first round, Serbia could potentially overtake Luka Banki's team.

Everything remains open, but two victories would significantly boost Serbia's chances of qualifying for the FIBA World Cup. In November, we face Lithuania away and then Italy at home. The final decisions will be made in February against Iceland and Lithuania, and Dušan Alimpijević's team has the opportunity to seal their qualification.

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