Preview: GB v Greece

Details

GB v Greece

FIBA World Cup Qualifier

Thursday 25th November, 6:30pm (GMT)

Vertu Motors Arena, Newcastle

INTRO

GB Men beginning their FIBA World Cup 2023 qualifying campaign in Newcastle tomorrow night, hosting world number 10 ranked Greece at the Vertu Motors Arena. The game is the first for GB since the 21-point win over France back in February and the first in the UK since the historic win over germany back in February 2020.

The game will be an opportunity to familiarise with Greece, with the teams drawn together in Group C of next year’s FIBA EuroBasket.

The opposition: GREECE

Opponents Greece finished second in Group H of the EuroBasket Qualifiers, which ended back in February. The team finished with a record of 4-2, missing out on top spot to BIH.

The game will be the 12th meeting between the sides, with GB’s last win coming at the European Olympic Qualifiers back in 1984. Despite the 1-10 record, recent games between the sides have been close affairs – most notably a 94-92 defeat in Leicester four years ago.

TEAM NEWS

The final 12 for tomorrow’s game is expected to be confirmed later this evening.

QUOTES

Speaking in Newcastle ahead of the game, Head Coach Marc Steutel is focussed on utilising his team’s strengths to identify and win key battles during tomorrow’s game.

“I think they’re going to pose some challenges for us but I absolutely feel we’ll do the same for them. I think we’ve developed as a basketball team, I think we’ve got some real areas of strengths – such as our continuity within the squad – and that really lends itself to some advantages on the floor. How we play, how we compete, how we progress and the areas of the game that we try and really focus on are all dependant on those strengths in terms of trying to lead in those key areas. ”

“I think Greece pose a lot of challenges that leave us trying to figure out some solutions and no matter what happens I am sure there will be more challenges come the game because Greece will want to surprise us and we’ll want to do the same for them.”

How to watch

Tomorrow evening’s game can be watched on BBC Sport in the UK.