So in the first half of the quarter finals: Spain 86 Slovenia 64 - - - - - - - - - - - - Macedonia 67 Lithuania 65 Updated brackets: SEMIFINALS Spain vs Macedonia QUARTERFINALS France vs. Greece - - - - - - - - - - - - - Russia vs. Serbia: Standings are: Rank Team Record 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Germany 4–4 Finland 3–5 11 Turkey 3–5 Georgia 2–6 13 Bosnia and Herzegovina 2–3 Bulgaria 2–3 Great Britain 2–3 Israel 2–3 17 Ukraine 2–3 Poland 2–3 Croatia 2–3 Italy 1–4 21 Montenegro 1–4 Latvia 0–5 Belgium 0–5 Portugal 0–5
So the second day of the quartefinals took place and this is what happened: France 64 Greece 56 - - - - - - - - - - - - - Russia 77 Serbia 67 So here are the teams in the semifinals and their match-ups: Spain VERSUS Macedonia - - - - - - - - - - - France VERSUS Russia Now for the 5-8th place brackets: Slovenia 77 Lithuania 80 - - - - - - - - - - - - - Greece VERSUS Serbia
My predictions are that Spain and Russia will meet in the final and France will face off against Macedonia in the semifinals. Also, I think Serbia and Lithuania play each other for fifth and Slovenia take on the Greek for seventh place. Also, am I the only one that thinks 24 teams have been a really good choice, or what?
I agree, Macedonia can't go in finals. When I remember that Croatia had victory against Macedonia and we lost with two points of difference.
Well, the seminals took place today. Here were the results: Spain 92-80 Macedonia France 79-71 Russia Now for the placement games. Slovenia and Serbia will face off for 7th place, while Lthuania and Greece will match-up for 5th. Also, Macedonia will take on Russia for the bronze medal. Finally, the final will be played between France and Spain. I think Spain wins, with domination. They're just too good for anyone in Europe to beat right now.
So, here' the final result of the Lithuania-Greece game: Lithuania 73-69 Greece Updated standings: 5 Lithuania 8-3 6 Greece 7-4 7 Slovenia 6-5 8 Serbia 5-6 9 Germany 4–4 Finland 3–5 11 Turkey 3–5 Georgia 2–6 13 Bosnia and Herzegovina 2–3 Bulgaria 2–3 Great Britain 2–3 Israel 2–3 17 Ukraine 2–3 Poland 2–3 Croatia 2–3 Italy 1–4 21 Montenegro 1–4 Latvia 0–5 Belgium 0–5 Portugal 0–5
We will see best finals on EUROS between Spain and France. I think that France will win. Best European teams, that's for sure.
Final standings: 1 Spain 10−1 2 France 9−2 3 Russia 10–1 4 Macedonia 7–4 5 Lithuania 8–3 6 Greece 7–4 7 Slovenia 6–5 8 Serbia 5–6 9 Germany 4–4 Finland 3–5 11 Turkey 3–5 Georgia 2–6 13 Bosnia and Herzegovina 2–3 Bulgaria 2–3 Great Britain 2–3 Israel 2–3 17 Ukraine 2–3 Poland 2–3 Croatia 2–3 Italy 1–4 21 Montenegro 1–4 Latvia 0–5 Belgium 0–5 Portugal 0–5
So all-in-all, I thought this was a pretty good Eurobasket. It exceeded my expectaitions of a 24-team tournament, that's for sure. Bosnia earned two wins (one against Croatia ), lots of surpsrises like Macedonia and Finland, and quite a few entertaining games. Although Spain's dominance took away a bit of the intrigue of the final. Can't wait for Slovenia 2013.
Tournament statistics/awards: Awards: Title: Spain MVP: Juan Carlos Navarro All-Tournament Team: PG - Tony Parker SG - Bo McCalebb SF - Juan Carlos Navarro PF - Andrei Kirlenko C - Pau Gasol Statistics: PPG: Player - Tony Parker (22.1) / Team - Spain (85.2) REB: Player - Chris Kaman (20.0) / Team - Lithuania (39.0) ASS: Player - Milos Teodosic (5.7) / Team - Spain (19.5)
Finale was great after all, attractive, fast balls, good actions, only France lost and again they played uncontrolled basketball.
Well I wasn't expecting France to win it all, but at least the went all the way to the finals this time. They usually fall earlier than that. Congrats to Spain, they are clearly still the best team in Europe. Next stop London 2012! I hope to see the surprised team of EuroBasket '11 (Macedonia) there.
