With EuroBasket 2025 tipping off, this is your one-stop destination for in-depth previews of all 24 national teams heading into Europe’s premier basketball tournament. Whether you’re tracking MVP candidates, X’s-and-O’s brilliance, or just figuring out who might crash the medal party, our Power Rankings and team-by-team breakdowns will keep you ahead of the curve.

Iceland: The Ice Is Thin, But the Fight Is Real

Group D – EuroBasket 2025 Preview

Don’t let the lack of flash fool you — Iceland comes into EuroBasket 2025 as a team with real structure, top-heavy talent and a clear plan. They won’t scare anyone on paper, but they’ve proven they can hang with elite teams when clicking. A few key players drive the engine, and if they stay healthy, Iceland has enough cohesion to bother more talented opponents.

Best Players: Martin Hermannsson was electric during the qualifiers, pouring in 20 points per game while taking over as the team’s primary scorer. Alongside him, Elvar Fridriksson dished 7 assists per game and provided essential ball security and playmaking. The backcourt duo is among the most productive in the tournament. Add Tryggvi Hlinason, the 7-footer who nearly averaged 3 blocks per game, and you’ve got a team built on a clear inside-out formula.

Path: A 3–3 record in a competitive qualifying group speaks volumes. They beat Turkey in Reykjavík and only lost the return game by a point. They also stunned Italy in Rome before losing the reverse fixture at home. The one real slip-up came in Hungary, where they let a winnable game get away. Still, this team showed it can punch above its weight.

Strengths: Ball security is a major asset — Iceland keeps turnovers low and rarely beats itself. Offensively, they move quickly out of actions, with Martin and Elvar reading and reacting to the defense at a high level. Tryggvi anchors the defense and brings real shot-blocking and physicality inside. This trio plays with chemistry and purpose.

Weaknesses: Beyond those three, things get dicey. There’s limited shot creation outside the guards, and the team often stalls when facing switching defenses. They hit just 33% from three, not bad but not enough to stretch teams out. Defensively, weak-side awareness is shaky, especially when rotating to the perimeter. Drop coverage against pick-and-pop bigs has hurt them — they allow too many clean looks from deep.

Bottom Line: Iceland has enough high-level performers to be dangerous, but not enough depth to sustain that level across a full tournament. If their three stars stay healthy and hot, they’ll be a problem — but they’re just one cold shooting night away from trouble.

Expectation: Smart, tough, but stretched thin

Expect them to steal a game or two, but depth and spacing will keep their ceiling low.

This article was co-written by the hosts of the European Hoops podcast, Tiago Cordeiro and André Lemos. Subscribe to the podcast and follow European Hoops on Twitter: @EthosEuroleague.

With EuroBasket 2025 tipping off, this is your one-stop destination for in-depth previews of all 24 national teams heading into Europe’s premier basketball tournament. Whether you’re tracking MVP candidates, X’s-and-O’s brilliance, or just figuring out who might crash the medal party, our Power Rankings and team-by-team breakdowns will keep you ahead of the curve.

France: Loaded with Depth, But Missing the Towers

Group D – EuroBasket 2025 Preview

Even without their twin interior anchors — Rudy Gobert and Victor Wembanyama — France arrives at EuroBasket 2025 as one of the deepest and most athletic teams in the tournament. New coach, new cycle, and still the same high expectations. Their roster oozes NBA talent, and they remain a contender even without a traditional big to dominate the paint.

Best Players: France used a wide rotation in the qualifiers, and no single player stood out for long stretches — only Andrew Albicy played five games, serving as the veteran stabilizer. But now the stars return. Zaccharie Risacher and Alexandre Sarr bring fresh NBA pedigree, while Bilal Coulibaly and Guerschon Yabusele provide elite physical tools and FIBA experience. No Rudy, no Wemby, no problem? We’ll see.

Path: A clean 6–0 record in the qualifiers. They didn’t always dominate, but they found ways to win every time — even grinding out tough games against Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia late in the cycle. Elie Okobo hit a buzzer-beater to down Bosnia and Herzegovina, proving this team can handle adversity even when the stars sit.

Strengths: France’s strengths start with athleticism — even without their elite rim protectors, this team is built to run, fly, and switch across all positions. Their depth might be the best in the tournament; they can rotate full five-man units without much of a dip in quality or intensity. On the perimeter, physical defenders like Bilal Coulibaly and Isaïa Cordinier make life miserable for opposing ball-handlers, giving France the tools to disrupt even the most structured offenses.

Weaknesses: France’s weaknesses center on their frontcourt, which lacks a tested center due to the absences of Gobert and Wembanyama, leaving them short on size and elite rim protection, while Lessort’s absence further deprives them of a solid contributor in the big spots. Their off-ball defense still needs improvement, especially in help-side timing and rotations, an issue that becomes more pronounced with smaller lineups. Additionally, their three-point shooting during qualifiers was inconsistent, with low volume and efficiency; although the NBA additions should bolster this area, it remains uncertain how they’ll perform under pressure.

Bottom Line: France might not have its most dominant version of the roster, but even this “Plan B” group is good enough to compete for a medal. If Sarr and Risacher find their rhythm quickly, and the wings stay aggressive on both ends, they’ll be a nightmare matchup for anyone.

Expectation: Still elite, even without their towers in the middle

They won’t be the tallest, but they just might be the fastest and on of the deepest.

This article was co-written by the hosts of the European Hoops podcast, Tiago Cordeiro and André Lemos. Subscribe to the podcast and follow European Hoops on Twitter: @EthosEuroleague.

With EuroBasket 2025 tipping off, this is your one-stop destination for in-depth previews of all 24 national teams heading into Europe’s premier basketball tournament. Whether you’re tracking MVP candidates, X’s-and-O’s brilliance, or just figuring out who might crash the medal party, our Power Rankings and team-by-team breakdowns will keep you ahead of the curve.

Poland: Home Court, But a Long Way Home

Group D – EuroBasket 2025 Preview

Poland enters EuroBasket 2025 as one of the four host nations, but hosting duties may be their biggest advantage. After a tough qualifying campaign where they went just 1–5, the Poles come into the tournament under pressure and with something to prove. The loss of star forward Jeremy Sochan with a calf injury was a huge blow, but the recent confirmation that veteran EuroLeague guard Jordan Loyd will join the team as their naturalized player has completely changed the team’s outlook. His presence provides a much-needed scoring punch and leadership, giving the Poles a new hope.

Best Players: While Mateusz Ponitka is still the heart and soul of this team, the addition of Jordan Loyd gives them a dynamic scoring partner. Loyd is a proven EuroLeague scorer and playmaker, and he’ll be expected to shoulder a significant offensive load. He brings a level of consistency and clutch play that was sorely missing in Sochan’s absence. Michal Michalak remains a consistent scoring threat, and Aleksander Balcerowski provides a solid interior presence and pick-and-roll partner for both Ponitka and now Loyd.

Path: Poland had a rocky road in qualifying, though it was more about testing than results — they were already qualified as hosts. Still, the performances raised concerns. They lost five of six, including both games to North Macedonia by double digits. Their lone win came in a nail-biter against Estonia. That’s not exactly the résumé of a contender, but Loyd’s addition could make those results less relevant.

Strengths: The addition of Jordan Loyd is a game-changer. He immediately addresses the team’s need for a go-to scorer and shot creator. His ability to shoot from deep, drive to the basket, and make plays for others will make their half-court offense much more fluid and less predictable. This will also take some pressure off of Ponitka, who can now be more of a bully in mismatches. Poland will have the home crowd to cheer them on, and with Loyd’s EuroLeague experience, they now have a proven player who is used to performing on the big stage.

Weaknesses: The team still has issues. Despite Loyd’s addition, the team’s shooting from deep (a brutal 25.9% in qualifiers) is a major concern. They’re still turnover-prone and can be undisciplined on transition defense. While Loyd helps, the loss of Sochan’s defensive versatility and athleticism leaves a gap on that end of the floor that other players will have to fill.

Bottom Line: The home crowd and the addition of Jordan Loyd give Poland a real chance to be a spoiler in this tournament. He can provide the spark and offensive consistency they’ll need to compete. While the team still has its flaws, the star power of Loyd and Ponitka, combined with the energy of the home crowd, could be a recipe for a few upsets.

Expectation: Home-court advantage and a fighting chance

Hosting helps and Loyd’s presence makes them a much more dangerous team. Don’t be surprised if they steal a game or two in the group stage and make a push for the knockout rounds.

This article was co-written by the hosts of the European Hoops podcast, Tiago Cordeiro and André Lemos. Subscribe to the podcast and follow European Hoops on Twitter: @EthosEuroleague.