France outlasted Slovenia 103–95 in Katowice in a high‑level contest that featured Luka Dončić at his best and Sylvain Francisco in headline form. Dončić produced 39 points with playmaking and paint pressure that kept Slovenia within range into the closing minutes. France answered with depth and a decisive late‑game surge, highlighted by Francisco’s shot‑making and timely stops that flipped the fourth quarter.
Slovenia’s plan mixed pace‑changing pick‑and‑rolls with staggered screens to spring Dončić into advantageous matchups, and for long stretches it worked. France countered by toggling coverages and cycling wing defenders, aiming to wear down initiations and flatten spacing. As fatigue crept in, the French bench steadied the offense, finding points in semi‑transition and on second‑chance opportunities to build a two‑possession cushion that held.
The result keeps France tracking toward the top of Group D while offering Slovenia positives against elite opposition. For both sides, the game provided a realistic preview of knockout intensity: whistle management, rebounding margins and loose‑ball wins proved as important as scheme design. France’s ability to close late—without abandoning structure—was the difference on the night.
The group phase runs from August 27 to September 4 across Riga (Group A), Tampere (Group B), Limassol (Group C) and Katowice (Group D). The Round of 16 is single-elimination on September 6–7, followed by quarterfinals on September 9–10, semifinals on September 12, and the final on September 14 in Riga. Twenty-four teams play five group games each, with the top four in every group advancing. These dates and the multi-host setup are defined by FIBA for EuroBasket 2025 and shape the tactical choices teams make during the first week.
