Group A began with turbulence as the holders Spain stumbled in Limassol (inter‑group context) and rivals sensed opportunity. In Riga, Estonia fed off an extraordinary traveling contingent to claim a needed win, while Turkey settled into its schedule with balanced scoring and size on the boards. The dynamic is fluid: Spain’s margin for error has narrowed, while Estonia’s belief is demonstrably higher and Turkey’s profile is trending toward reliability.
Spain’s route to the Round of 16 is still under their control, but closing sequences and rebounding discipline must sharpen immediately. Turkey’s ability to toggle between post touches and guard‑led creation keeps defenses honest, and Estonia’s aggression in transition adds a volatility edge that can tilt close games. With Riga also set to stage the entire Final Phase, Group A teams benefit from early building familiarity.
As the group progresses, tiebreakers—head‑to‑head first, then point differential—may loom large. Expect possessions to slow in fourth quarters, with coaches emphasizing execution over experimentation as bracket implications intensify.
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.
