EuroBasket 2022 Group B: Germany hope to gain home-court advantage in Cologne

German team to face tough group with likes of France, Slovenia, Lithuania

By Emre Asikci

ISTANBUL (AA) - Germany are striving to capitalize on their home-field advantage with their spectators in attendance.

Banking on home advantage throughout the tournament, the Germans will host Hungary, Slovenia, Lithuania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and France.

Germany's manager Gordon Herbert suffered severe injuries before the event started.

Isaac Bonga, Maxi Kleber and Moe Wagner will not be part of the final roster due to their injuries.

Dennis Schroder, who is an unsigned free agent, will be back in action after recovering from an ankle injury. Captain Schroder is a key part of the team along with Franz Wagner from Orlando Magic.

Winning the gold medal in the 1993 EuroBasket as host was one of the greatest achievements of Germany.

They also clinched a silver medal in 2005 after losing to Greece with a 78–62 score in Belgrade.

Cologne Arena will host all clashes as Bosnia and Herzegovina will play against Hungary in the opening match of Group B on Game Day 1.

Germany's squad:

Niels Giffey, Justus Hollatz, Maodo Lo, Andreas Obst, Gavin Schilling, Dennis Schroder, Christian Sengfelder, Daniel Theis, Johannes Thiemann, Johannes Voigtmann, Nick Weiler-Babb, Franz Wagner (Orlando Magic), Jonas Wohlfarth-Bottermann

- France

With a roster of stars like Rudy Gobert, Evan Fournier, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot and Theo Maledon, France aims to bring Europe's most prestigious basketball trophy to Paris.

But Vincent Collet's side will lack some of their key players, namely Frank Ntilikina Andrew Albicy, Moustapha Fall and Victor Wembanyama due to injuries.

Winning one gold, two silvers, and six bronzes in Euros, France are eighth in the all-time medal tables

France's best finish came at EuroBasket 2013, which was the 38th edition in Slovenia.

It is currently ranked fourth in FIBA World Rankings.

Isaia Cordinier, Evan Fournier (New York Knicks), Rudy Gobert (Utah Jazz), Thomas Heurtel, Mouhammadou Jaiteh, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (Atlanta Hawks), Theo Maledon (Oklahoma City Thunder), Amath M'Baye, Elie Okobo, Vincent Poirier, Terry Tarpey, Guerschon Yabusele

- Slovenia

Slovenia's national team has been a regular at every Euros since the independence of the country in 1991. They have always advanced to the knockout stage since 2005.

Their greatest achievement at EuroBasket came in 2017 claiming the gold medal.

The number one-ranked team on the FIBA EuroBasket list has two standout players: Luka Doncic and Goran Dragic.

Doncic, 23, is expected to lift the Slovenian national team to among the favorites to win the tournament.

Slovenia's squad is as follows:

Jaka Blazic, Vlatko Cancar, Ziga Dimec, Luka Doncic (Dallas Mavericks), Goran Dragic (Chicago Bulls), Zoran Dragic, Edo Muric, Aleksej Nikolic, Klemen Prepelic, Luka Rupnik, Ziga Samar, Mike Tobey

- Lithuania

Lithuania, who managed to win the 1937, 1939 and 2003 titles will seek to end their Euros title drought in Germany.

The team will lack Sacramento Kings star Domantas Sabonis but they will battle for glory with the help of their two NBA players, Domantas Sabonis and Jonas Valanciunas

Three-time runner-up Lithuania are currently in the eighth spot in the FIBA World rankings.

Full Lithuania 12-man roster:

Ignas Brazdeikis, Arnas Butkevicius, Martynas Echodas, Rokas Giedraitis, Marius Grigonis, Rokas Jokubaitis, Mindaugas Kuzminskas, Lukas Lekavicius, Domantas Sabonis(Sacramento Kings), Jonas Valanciunas (New Orleans Pelicans), Kristupas Zemaitis, Eigirdas Zukauskas

Sep. 1:

Bosnia and Herzegovina - Hungary

Slovenia - Lithuania

France - Germany

Sep. 3:

Germany - Bosnia and Herzegovina

Lithuania - France

Hungary - Slovenia

Sep. 4:

Lithuania - Germany

Slovenia - Bosnia and Herzegovina

France - Hungary